# NTSB FTW83IA131: Aerospatiale AS-350D, N3593D, E. Cameron, March 1, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 1, 1983, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: E. Cameron
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83IA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20776/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83IA131

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Near collision between aircraft, landing - flare/touchdown
  - electrical system,electric wiring - chafed (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - open (cause)
  - landing gear,float assembly - inoperative (cause)

## Analysis

DURING AN APPROACH TO AN OIL DRILLING RIG PLATFORM, THE ENGINE DECELERATED AS THE PILOT STARTED TO ALL POWER. WITH THE ACFT BELOW THE LANDING AREA, HE MANEUVERED TO MISS THE PLATFORM & INITIATED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. HE MADE A MAYDAY CALL & TRIED TO ELECTRICALLY DEPLOY THE EMERGENCY FLOATS; HOWEVER, THE RIGHT FLOAT FAILED TO INFLATE & THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME FOR MANUAL DEPLOYMENT. IMMEDIATELY ON TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER & BEGAN TO FILL WITH WATER. REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS ONLY MINOR DAMAGE FROM WATER IMMERSION. NO PREIMPACT DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE POWER LOSS. THE WIRES TO THE RIGHT FLOAT (FOR ELECTRICAL DEPLOYMENT) WERE WORN IN TWO AT A CENTER HEX HEAD SCREW. A FLEET INSPECTION OF 37 ACFT REVEALED THAT 60% WERE WORN THRU IN THE SAME AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3593D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-350D
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1060
- Airframe hours: 3486
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101 531 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 18, 1983, 38 hours before
- Departed: E. CAMERON 33A, GM
- Destination: E. CAMERON 42B, GM
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,286 total, 393 in this make and model, 2,014 as pilot in command, 122 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TR4, 7 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19830301061079I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830301061079I), Mar 1, 1983: Snias AS350D, Cameron, LA, Minor damage. Engine deceleration on final for platform. Autorotated to water. One float failed to deploy. Float wires severed.

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.

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