# NTSB FTW85LA119: Sikorsky S-76A, N31223, Houma, LA, February 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1985, 01:30 local (07:30 UTC)
- Place: Houma, LA
- Coordinates: 29.569316, -90.699104 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5693&lon=-90.6991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21673
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA119
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21673/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA119

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - underconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - underconfidence in personal ability, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - not performed

## Analysis

THE AIRCREW HAD JUST COMPLETED A MEDIVAC FLT & WERE REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER TO THE HOME BASE. WHILE THEY WERE EN ROUTE, THE COMPANY DISPATCHER INFORMED THE CREW THAT FOG WAS MOVING INTO THE AREA & THAT THEY HAD BETTER HURRY. DURING THE NIGHT APCH, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE, ABOUT 300 WEST OF THE THRESHOLD TO RWY 18. THE CREW STATED THAT THE LAST THING THEY REMEMBER WAS BEING AT 250 FT AGL WHILE ATTEMPTING A VFR APCH. ONE PLT WAS MONITORING THE INSTRUMENTS WHILE THE OTHER WAS ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN THE RWY ENVIRONMENT. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED & THE PLTS WERE QUALIFIED TO MAKE AN INSTRUMENT APCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31223](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31223-2013-06-06), registration cancelled 2013-06-06, S/N 760257, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-76A
- Registry model: [Sikorsky S-76A](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76a) (registry code 8143006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 760257
- Airframe hours: 1554
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C30 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pumpkin Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 1, 1985, 54 hours before
- Departed: ABBEVILLE, LA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: HLM, Houma-Terrebonne

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19850219003639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850219003639A), Feb 19, 1985: Skrsky S76A, Houma, LA, Destroyed. Aircraft struck ground while executing a VFR approach in fir conditions. No attempt to execute IFR approach.

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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