- Date
- December 27, 1989, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- S Marsh Is 7
- Injuries
- 3 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3913SBell 206L-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891227053329A
- Case key
- 23005
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to recognize and correct a situation involving loss of tail rotor effectiveness, resulting in loss of aircraft control.
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
The helicopter had been loaded near its max gross wt limit of 4150 lbs. The plt rprtd that during an apch to an offshore platform in the gulf of Mexico, there was virtually no wind. As the apch speed dropped below effective translational lift, the plt noted a shudder that did not seem normal, so he initiated a go-around. As he applied power & pedal to go around, the acft spun to the rgt & the nose tucked. The plt tried to correct the situation, but was unable. He rprtd that just before water impact he leveled the helicopter, deployed the emerg floats & applied full collective pitch. Also, he stated the rate of spin decreased as he applied collective pitch. One of the left floats separated on water entry & the helicopter rolled over. No feedback or restriction of the controls was noted before impact. A post-acdnt exam of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact part failure or malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3913S
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45666
- Airframe hours
- 8,764
- Engine
- Allison 250-C28B, 500 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Air Logistics
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · December 25, 1989 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Grand Chenier, LA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 6,796 total · 4,867 in this make and model · 6,796 as pilot in command · 174 in the last 90 days · 57 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- 7R4, 35 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.