# NTSB MIA08WA181: Bell 212, Persian Gulf, United Arab Emirates, September 3, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 5 · Foreign
- Date: September 3, 2008, 00:23 local (00:23 UTC)
- Place: Persian Gulf, United Arab Emirates
- Coordinates: 25.350276, 54.483612
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.3503&lon=54.4836&mi=10
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- Investigation class: Class 5 - No publish
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: Miami IFO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68866
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08WA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68866/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08WA181

## Factual narrative

On September 3, 2008, at 0023 universal time, a Bell 212, A6-AVL registered to and operated by Aerogulf Services Company LLC, collided with a crane during takeoff from an oil rig in the Persian Gulf. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage. The airline transport rated pilot-in-command, copilot, and five passengers were killed. The flight was departing from the Resilient Maersk oil rig en-route to another oil rig in the Rashid oil field. Witnesses stated the helicopter arrived from Dubai, landed towards the front of the helipad, and cargo was off loaded. The helicopter was then observed to lift off the helipad to a hover, turn left 180 degrees, moved rearward, and collide with the crane. The helicopter fell to the deck of the helipad and caught fire. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the United Arab Emirates. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: United Arab Emirates Chief of Regulations and Investigations General Civil Aviation Authority P.O. Box 3050 Dubai Telephone: 971-4-2111558 Fax: 971-4 2820847 This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information obtained for or released by the United Arab Emirates.

## Aircraft

- Registration: A6-AVL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bell 212
- Category: Helicopter
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Aerogulf Services Company LLC
- Departed: NONE, Oil Rig
- Destination: NONE, Oil Rig
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal
- Co-pilot; injuries: fatal

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)
- Wind: 70° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observed at: OMDB

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.

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