- Date
- February 26, 1992, 06:40 local (12:40 UTC)
- Place
- Grand Isle
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2750FBell 206B III
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920226004089A
- Case key
- 18447
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
Heavy sea state due to the high winds. A factor was the power loss.
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
During an approach to a helideck the pilot experienced a partial power loss and subsequently made a successful autorotation. Due to high sea state the pilot elected to maintain idle power in order to avoid tail boom contact with the main rotor blade while awaiting rescue. Wind was from 300 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 30. Wave action damaged the tail rotor blades which then contacted the tail boom. At that point all occupants boarded a life raft. An engine test run was successful. The cause of the power loss was undetermined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2750F
- Reported as
- Bell 206B III
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2674
- Airframe hours
- 12,372
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Operator
- Chevron USA Incorporated
- Registered owner
- Chevron USA Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 7, 1992 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- LEV · Leeville, LA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,020 total · 975 in this make and model · 3,980 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 18 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.