# NTSB FTW82FA145: Bell 212, N5752W, Intracoastal Ci, LA, April 22, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 22, 1982, 13:07 local (19:07 UTC)
- Place: Intracoastal Ci, LA
- Coordinates: 29.970798, -92.119911 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9708&lon=-92.1199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious, 9 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 22, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71153
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82FA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71153/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FA145

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - other (cause)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - overtemperature (cause)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - worn (cause)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - disconnected (cause)
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 31137
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 59; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820422010639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820422010639A), Apr 22, 1982: Bell 212, Intracoastal Ci, LA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Loud grinding noise in rear. Lost directional control. Rolled over after water landing. Tail rotor drive had failed

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.