- Date
- October 25, 1993, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- High Island 467
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N22841Bell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 1, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931025040659A
- Case key
- 18959
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
Were the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and his failure to remove all of the aircraft tie-downs.
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 pilot reported that, upon takeoff from the offshore platform, the aircraft 'pitched nose down and began to spin uncontrollably.' Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the water. The operator reported that the left front aircraft tie-down had not been removed prior to takeoff.
Factual narrative
On October 25, 1993, at 1650 central daylight time, a Bell 206B, N22841, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a platform in the High Island Block 467, Gulf of Mexico. The commercial pilot and the one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the on demand air taxi flight. A company VFR flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he lifted off of the offshore platform into the wind and proceeded to move forward from a high hover. He further stated that the aircraft then "pitched nose down" and "began to spin uncontrollably and went inverted." Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the water. An on site investigation by the operator revealed that the left front aircraft tie-down had not been removed prior to takeoff. One end of the tie-down remained attached to the platform and the other held the aircraft's jack point attachment.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N22841
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3641
- Airframe hours
- 7,575
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · October 19, 1993 · 9 hours before
- Destination
- 7R5 · Cameron, 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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,631 total · 2,062 in this make and model · 2,531 as pilot in command · 61 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 45° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.