# NTSB FTW99LA215: Mbb BO-105S, N2785R, Vermilion 250, August 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 1999, 14:07 local (19:07 UTC) - Place: Vermilion 250 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47016 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47016/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA215 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the helicopter while attempting to takeoff. A factor was the high wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), takeoff ## Analysis The BO-105S helicopter began to spin on the helipad as the pilot was preparing for takeoff. The pilot stated that he 'advanced the throttles to 100%,' and then as he reached to adjust the volume of the radios, the helicopter began 'spinning to the left and sliding backwards.' The helicopter completed two 360-degree revolutions, during which it contacted and knocked a parked, unmanned Bell 206L-3 into the Gulf of Mexico. The BO-105S helicopter came to rest in the safety wire at the edge of the platform. The pilot stated that the winds were from the south, southwest at 30 knots, and the helicopter was initially facing west. Control continuity was established to all flight control systems. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 1999, at 1407 central daylight time, a Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm (Mbb) BO-105S helicopter, N2785R, was substantially damaged during takeoff when it collided with a parked helicopter on the Vermilion 250 helipad, located offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The instrument rated commercial pilot and the three passengers were not injured. The helicopter was registered to Offshore Logistics, L.L.C., of Lafayette, Louisiana, and operated by Air Logistics, L.L.C., of New Iberia, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Cameron, Louisiana. According to the pilot, the helicopter was positioned at the southwest corner of the helipad on a westerly heading, and he was preparing for takeoff. An unmanned, Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N367AL, was parked on the northeast corner of the same helipad. The pilot "advanced the throttles to 100%," and then as he reached to adjust the volume of the radios, the helicopter began "spinning to the left and sliding backwards." The collective was in the "DOWN" position (not locked) and the anti-torque pedals were in the "NEUTRAL" position when the helicopter began to spin and move backwards. The pilot stated that he applied "right pedal and forward cyclic" in an attempt to terminate the spinning. The helicopter contacted the parked Bell 206L-3 and completed one 360 degree revolution. The helicopter continued to spin to the left and contacted the Bell 206L-3 a second time; consequently, the Bell 206L-3 was knocked off of the platform and fell into the Gulf of Mexico. The helicopter completed a second revolution before coming to rest upright, in the "safety wire" at the edge of the platform. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident the winds were from the south, southwest at 30 knots. The pilot and two mechanics reported that the tailboom of the BO-105S was bent. They added that one of its main rotor blades was destroyed, and the remaining three main rotor blades were fractured approximately 3 feet inboard from the blade tips. An FAA inspector, a representative from American Eurocopter and a representative from Air Logistics L.L.C., examined the helicopter on August 16, 1999, at the Air Logistics facilities located in New Iberia, Louisiana. Anti-torque control continuity was established from the tail rotor blades through the tailboom to the anti-torque control pedals in the cockpit. Control continuity was established from the cyclic and collective cockpit controls to the main rotor blades. No mechanical anomalies were observed during the examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2785R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2785R-2001-08-23), registration cancelled 2001-08-23, S/N S-642 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mbb BO-105S - Registry model: [Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105S](https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm-bo-105s) (registry code 5626006) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: S-642 - Airframe hours: 8669 - Engines: Allison C-250-20 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Air Logistics, L.L.C. - Registered owner: Offshore Logistics, L.L.C. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 3, 1999, 141 hours before - Destination: 39LA, CAMERON, LA - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,070 total, 1,260 in this make and model, 7,623 as pilot in command, 206 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 30 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990810011709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990810011709A), Aug 10, 1999: Bolkms BO105S, Gulf Of Mexico, Substantial damage. Air logistics air taxi ( messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm BO-105S helicopter) was running up its engine on a helideck in the Gulf Of Mexico when the acft tail spun… 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.