# NTSB FTW90LA060: Aerospatiale AS355F-1, N5791N, High Island Ao6, January 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 23, 1990, 16:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place: High Island Ao6
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23099
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23099/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA060

## Probable cause

UNDETERMINED DUE TO THE LACK OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - water
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY FROM AN OFFSHORE LOCATION TO A COMPANY ONSHORE BASE. THE WEATHER WAS IMC ALONG THE ENTIRE TEXAS COAST, WITH FOG REPORTED BOTH ON AND OFFSHORE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CHANGE DESTINATIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET ONSHORE. THE LAST COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PILOT INDICATED THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES OFFSHORE FROM ITS DESTINATION. THE PILOT AND THE HELICOPTER WERE NOT RECOVERED. SEVERAL PARTS FROM THE HELICOPTER WERE RECOVERED AND IDENTIFIED. THE HELICOPTER WAS EQUIPPED FOR BASIC VFR FLIGHT ONLY AND THE PILOT LACKED RECENT INSTRUMENT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5791N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5791N-1990-10-30), registration cancelled 1990-10-30, S/N 5117 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS355F-1
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS 355F1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-355f1) (registry code 8680810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 5117
- Airframe hours: 5795
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20F 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters Inc.
- Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 15, 1990, 3 hours before
- Departed: NONE, HIGH ISLAND 511, GM
- Destination: NONE, SABINE PASS, TX
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,103 total, 175 in this make and model, 4,616 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NONE, 20 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 19900123001969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900123001969A), Jan 23, 1990: Aerosp AS355F1, Gulf Of Mexicol, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Helicopter became missing 20 miles offshore. Pieces of wreckage found. IMC in area. VFR equipped only.

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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