- Date
- November 15, 1998, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Matagorda 713
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N21466Bell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19981115041169A
- Case key
- 45293
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
The pilot's loss of control due to his failure to untie ground straps. A factor was his inadequate preflight inspection.
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 takeoff from an offshore oil platform, the helicopter impacted the platform. After the accident, it was confirmed that the helicopter's front two skid tie down straps were not removed during preflight.
Factual narrative
On November 15, 1998, approximately 0945 central standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N21466, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Matagorda 713, an oil platform on the Gulf of Mexico. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. The aircraft was owned and operated by Industrial Helicopters Inc., of Lafayette, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight.
According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that his schedule the morning of the accident was to transport several different people to four separate platforms. Before leaving the platform, he untied all three platform tiedowns on the helicopter and visually "checked the floats, skids, cross tubes, and the helicopter in general." After untying the main rotor blade he began to fuel the helicopter. Prior to takeoff, he reported completing the checklist.
After takeoff, he proceeded to fly the helicopter to M1638, which was the first scheduled platform. His last stop was M1713 where he dropped off two passengers and proceeded to "shut down" the helicopter.
At 9:30 a.m. the 10,771 hour pilot secured, "the two front tie downs" to the platform due to the prevailing 30 to 34 knot wind conditions. Subsequently, the pilot decided to take off and he "checked the wind on the air speed indicator", and the winds were still about the same. He untied the main rotor blade, got into the helicopter, and started the engine. As the pilot "pulled pitch" to takeoff, the aircraft pitched forward. He then pulled back on the cyclic and the aircraft "started to come apart."
After the accident, the pilot confirmed that he had not removed the front tie downs on the helicopter.
After contacting Industrial Helicopter, Inc., arrangements were made by the company for a medical check and drug test of the pilot. The results were negative.
The mast and a section of the tail boom separated from the helicopter during the accident sequence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N21466
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3459
- Airframe hours
- 10,271
- Engine
- Allison 250 C-20, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Industrial Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 9, 1998 · 62 hours before
- Departed
- Matagorda 713, GM
- Destination
- NONE · Matagorda 633, GM
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
- 61
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 10,771 total · 7,100 in this make and model · 10,771 as pilot in command · 185 in the last 90 days · 65 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CRP, 50 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.