# NTSB FTW84FA107: Aerospatiale AS-355F, N5792X, Morgan City, LA, January 4, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 4, 1984, 06:55 local (12:55 UTC)
- Place: Morgan City, LA
- Coordinates: 29.729379, -91.130432 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7294&lon=-91.1304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21098
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21098/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA107

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - window,flight compartment window/windshield - dirty(foggy) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLTS IN A HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED FOGGY WEATHER DURING A POSITIONING FLT AND CRASHED INTO A LAKE ABOUT 4 MI FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT, A FISHERMAN WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT SAID THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO THE WATER IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE ACFT SKIPPED AND TUMBLED FOR ABOUT 100 YARDS BEFORE IT SANK. PLTS, WHO WERE SEARCHING IN THE AREA & THAT THERE WAS A SCUD LAYER BETWEEN 100 & 300 FT AGL. A COUPLE OF AIRCREWS REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THEIR WINDSPEEDS FOGGEDUP ON BOTH THE INSIDE & OUTSIDE, REDUCING THEIR FORWARD VISIBILITY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PLTS REPORTED DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING A VISIBLE HORIZON BELOW 300 FT AGL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5792X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5792X-1988-11-30), registration cancelled 1988-11-30, S/N 5106 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-355F
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS 355 F ECUREUIL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-355-f-ecureuil) (registry code 8680806) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 5106
- Airframe hours: 1723
- Engines: ALLISON 250C-20F 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters,Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 26, 1983, 10 hours before
- Departed: 7R3
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,586 total, 607 in this make and model, 10,121 as pilot in command, 182 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 50 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAWR, 2 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).

- [Accident 19840104000209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840104000209A), Jan 4, 1984: Aerosp AS355F, Morgan City, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted the glassy water of a lake while flying low in fog and haze. Should have been at 500 ft or above in clear.

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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