# NTSB FTW92FA077: Bell 212, N92AL, Morgan City, LA, February 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 29, 1992, 13:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Morgan City, LA
- Coordinates: 29.72985, -91.130691 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7298&lon=-91.1307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92FA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18353/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92FA077

## Probable cause

THE INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM AS RESULTS OF THE MAIN ROTOR STATIC STOP CONTACTING THE MAST FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - rotor system,main rotor hub stop(static/dynamic) - compression
  - rotor drive system,main rotor mast(drive shaft) - collapsed
  - rotor system - separation (cause)
  - rotor system - undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AN ATP RATED HELICOPTER PILOT EXPERIENCED AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP WHILE AT CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,800 FEET MSL. CONTROL WAS LOST FOLLOWING MAST BUMPING AND MAIN ROTOR SEPARATION. THE MAIN WRECKAGE OF THE HELICOPTER WAS LOCATED IN A HEAVILY WOODED MARSH, IN ABOUT 5 FEET OF WATER, RESTING NEARLY UPSIDE DOWN. DEBRIS AND AIRFRAME COMPONENTS WERE FOUND SCATTERED FOR ABOUT 1,000 YARDS PRIOR TO THE MAIN WRECKAGE. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM SEPARATE FROM THE AIRFRAME. THE MAIN ROTOR HUB, WITH BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES STILL ATTACHED, WAS FOUND ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE MAST SEPARATION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF CRITICAL COMPONENTS THAT COULD NOT BE RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N92AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92AL-1996-02-05), registration cancelled 1996-02-05, S/N 30828 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212
- Registry model: [Bell 212](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-212) (registry code 1181420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 30828
- Airframe hours: 10227
- Engines: P&W PT6T-3B 1290 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Offshore Logistics, Inc., doing business as Air Logistics
- Registered owner: Offshore Logistics, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 9, 1992, 21 hours before
- Departed: VEC, VENICE, LA
- Destination: ARA, NEW IBERIA, LA
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 9,993 total, 955 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PTN, 10 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 19920229004579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920229004579A), Feb 29, 1992: Bell 212, Morgan City, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Helicopter broke up in flight. Lost main rotors. Dived vertically into swamp. Rotor stabilizer bar missing.

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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