# NTSB FTW92IA092: Bell 206L-3, N41791, Sabine Pass #18, March 5, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1992, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Sabine Pass #18
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18387
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92IA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18387/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92IA092

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - incapacitation(loss of consciousness), pilot in command
  - incapacitation(other cardiovascular), pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD LANDED ON AN OIL PLATFORM DUE TO POOR WEATHER WHILE EN ROUTE TO ANOTHER OFFSHORE PLATFORM. ONCE THE WEATHER HAD CLEARED, HE AND THE THREE PASSENGERS REBOARDED THE HELICOPTER. BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE THE PILOT HAD SEVERAL CONVULSIONS AND LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. THE PASSENGERS REMOVED HIM FROM THE COCKPIT AND ADMINISTERED CPR. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL AND PRONOUNCED DEAD. THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION DUE TO ACUTE CORONARY ARTERY INSUFFICIENCY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N41791 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 51465
- Airframe hours: 835
- Engines: ALLISON 250C-30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters
- Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: NONE, SABINE PASS, TX
- Destination: NONE, HI BLK#116, GM
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 5,580 total, 1,179 in this make and model, 91 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 19 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19920305012589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920305012589I), Mar 5, 1992: Bell 206L3, Gulf Of Mexico, LA. Precautionary landing on heliport platform due to weather. Pilot became ill. Flown to hospital. Died en route.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.