# NTSB FTW88FA039: Aerospatiale SA-330J, N3596N, Eugene Island, December 21, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 21, 1987, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Eugene Island
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 15 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88FA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22532/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA039

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER, WITH 2 PLTS & 13 PASSENGERS, WAS ON AN IFR FLT TO A PSN IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. FROM THAT PSN, THEY PROCEEDED UNDER VFR TO AN OFF-SHORE OIL DRILLING RIG (EI-190). AS THE HELICOPTER WAS ARRIVING FROM THE SE, THERE WAS A STRONG WIND FROM THE NE. THE LANDING PLATFORM (HELIPAD) WAS LOCATED ON THE NW SIDE OF THE OIL RIG. THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE AN APCH TO THE HELIPAD BY FLYING PARALLEL TO THE UPWIND (NE) SIDE OF THE OIL RIG, RATHER THAN GOING AROUND THE DOWNWIND SIDE & APCHG THE HELIPAD BY FLYING INTO THE WIND. AFTER PROCEEDING TO AN AREA OVER THE VCNTY OF THE HELIPAD, THE PLT TURNED THE HELICOPTER TO THE RGT & ALIGNED IT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN OBSERVED TO DRIFT REARWARD & TO THE RGT UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE NW LEG OF THE OIL RIG. IT THEN CRASHED ON THE OIL RIG & WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT & FIRE. AN NTSB STUDY SHOWED THE WIND WAS FROM 040 DEG AT 35 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3596N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3596N-1991-03-28), registration cancelled 1991-03-28, S/N 1588 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA-330J
- Registry model: [S N I A S SA330J](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-sa330j) (registry code 8680612) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1588
- Airframe hours: 4201
- Engines: TURBOMECA TURMO-IVC 1550 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters Inc.
- Registered owner: Connecticut Nat'L Bank
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: 2LA3, INTRACOASTAL, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Eugene Island 190 Helipad

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 11,993 total, 319 in this make and model, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 35 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EI26, 18 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 19871221070929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871221070929A), Dec 21, 1987: Snias SA330J, Eugene Island, TX, Destroyed, 15 fatal. Main rotors struck leg of drilling rig while hovering to land. Severe crosswind,low visibility. Crashed and burned.

## Other investigations on N3596N (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC80IA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80IA076), Aug 26, 1980: Aerospatial SA330J (N3596N), N Kingstown, RI, incident, minor damage

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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