- Date
- December 9, 1996, 14:58 local (20:58 UTC)
- Place
- East Cameron 71
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N390MAAerospatiale AS350B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961209039179A
- Case key
- 20123
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
failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from an object (crane/bucket). The gusty wind condition and proximity of the crane/bucket were related factors.
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 hovered the helicopter about 3 feet above the helipad of an offshore platform, and initiated a pedal turn to keep the tailrotor clear of the stairwell and to align the helicopter into the wind for the landing. During the turn, the tailrotor struck a guard on the operator bucket of a crane, and one tail rotor blade separated from the helicopter. The helicopter rotated (uncontrolled) through 90 degrees of heading change, as the pilot rolled off the throttle and performed an autorotation onto the platform helipad. Winds were from the south at 10 gusting 18 knots.
Factual narrative
On December 9, 1996, at 1458 central standard time, an Aerospatiale AS350B, N390MA, registered to and operated by Metro Aviation, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 135, struck a crane while hovering at an offshore platform at the East Cameron 71 in the Gulf of Mexico. The commercial pilot and the sole passenger were not injured and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from West Cameron 238, Gulf of Mexico, at 1442.
During telephone interviews and on the Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot and company personnel reported the following information to the investigator-in-charge. The helicopter approached the platform at an airspeed of 120 knots on a 190 to 200 degree heading. Winds were from the south at 10 knots gusting to 18 knots. The pilot hovered the helicopter about 3 feet above the helipad and initiated a pedal turn to keep the tailrotor clear of the stairwell and to align the helicopter into the wind for the landing. During the turn, the tailrotor struck a guard on the operator bucket of the crane and one tail rotor blade separated from the helicopter. The helicopter rotated uncontrolled through 90 degrees of heading change as the pilot rolled off the throttle and performed an autorotation onto the platform's helipad.
The helicopter was examined by the pilot and other company personnel. Company personnel reported damage to the tailrotor blades, gearbox, and at the gearbox to tailboom attachment points.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N390MA
- Reported as
- Aerospatiale AS350B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1549
- Engine
- Turbomeca ARRIEL 1B1, 641 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Metro Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- W. Cameron 238, GM
- Destination
- E. Cameron 71, GM
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5,391 total · 2,060 in this make and model · 4,501 as pilot in command · 182 in the last 90 days · 91 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 135° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.