# NTSB FTW88LA158: Bell 206B, N5747Z, West Cameron 28, September 1, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 1, 1988, 09:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place: West Cameron 28
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22681
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA158
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22681/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA158

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - instructions,written/verbal - not understood, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - tie down - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,rough

## Analysis

THE PILOT LANDED THE HEICOPTER ON A DRILLING PLATFORM AND INSTRUCTED THE MECHANIC TO INSTALL ONLY THE FORWARD TIE-DOWNS.  THE MECHANIC SECURED THE FORWARD AND AFT TIE-DOWNS AND SECURED THE FORWARD ROTOR BLADES.  WHEN THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE HELICOPTER, HE REMOVED THE ROTOR BLADE TIE-DOWN AND THE FORWARD TIE-DOWNS, BUT NOT THE AFT TIE-DOWNS. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE HELICOPTER BECAME AIRBORNE IN A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE, SETTLED BACK ON THE SAFETY FENCE AND SLID BACKWARD INTO THE WATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5747Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5747Z-1991-03-22), registration cancelled 1991-03-22, S/N 3127 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3127
- Airframe hours: 10622
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 27, 1988, 15 hours before
- Departed: WEST CAMERON280, GM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 14,634 total, 8,454 in this make and model, 14,083 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 107 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: V245

## 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 19880901036579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880901036579A), Sep 1, 1988: Bell 206B, Gulf Of Mexico, TX, Destroyed. Crewman had secured aft skid tie downs unknown by pilot. He did not check, aircraft liftoff nose high. Fell in water

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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