- Date
- July 4, 1987, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Venice, LA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5796MAerospatiale AS-355-F1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870704032409A
- Case key
- 22256
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
One of the mechanics who performed maintenance on the aircraft main rotor head stated that he was not sure that he installed the retaining bolts which secured the vibration absorber assembly to the aircraft. Metallurgical analysis of the assembly indicated that the retaining bolts were not installed at impact. Examination of the wreckage suggests that the vibration absorber assembly separated from the aircraft and contacted the main rotor system resulting in loss of aircraft control and subsequent contact with the terrain (water). Witnesses observed the helicopter come apart in flight after hearing a loud 'boom'.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5796M
- Reported as
- Aerospatiale AS-355-F1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 5162
- Airframe hours
- 4,460
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20F, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Petroleum Helicopters,Inc.
- Registered owner
- Petroleum Helicopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · July 3, 1987 · 4 hours before
- Departed
- 7R1 · Venice, LA
- Destination
- Gulf Of Mexico
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 5,739 total · 543 in this make and model · 4,819 as pilot in command · 202 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- 7R1, 17 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.