- Date
- April 22, 1982, 13:07 local (19:07 UTC)
- Place
- Intracoastal Ci, LA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious, 9 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5752WBell 212
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 22, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820422010639A
- Case key
- 71153
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was in cruise flight when a sudden and severe right yaw occurred. Subsequently, it was autorotated to a ditching in rough water. Touchdown was made on top of a wave, then the helicopter rolled over. The survivors did not get the raft out. Another helicopter arrived but could not land in the rough sea. A life raft was dropped, but it was blown downwind by the time a survivor (the copilot) swam to it and got it inflated. The copilot was unable to paddle against the wind to the other survivors. The helicopter sank before a rescue boat arrived. However, it was recovered, later. An investigation revealed that the female portion of a tail rotor coupling, pn 204-040-604-5, had failed due to lack of lubrication. The proper type of lubricant had been used. An exam of the coupling seal, pn 204-040-611-1, revealed tears and a circumferential cut, .14 to .16 inch long. Grease was found throughout the cut area. The helicopter had accumulated 1226 hrs total time and 376 hrs since overhaul.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5752W
- Reported as
- Bell 212
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 31137
- Engine
- P & W PT6T3-3B-6, 900 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Rotor-Aids, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Exxon Co. USA
- Departed
- High Island Blk
- Destination
- ICY · Intracoastal Ci, LA
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 25,383 total · 426 in this make and model · 71 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 30 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 149 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.