Bell 206L-3 N347AL

Summary

On 2 May 1995 at about 11:53 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N347AL was involved in an accident near Venice, Louisiana, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 May 1995 at 11:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Venice, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

29.2692, -89.3504

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N347AL

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Platform 86C

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95FA186

1 person died.

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO INGESTION OF EXHAUST FUMES FROM AN OIL PLATFORM FLARE BOOM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING FINAL APPROACH TO AN OFFSHORE OIL PLATFORM, THE HELICOPTER FLEW INTO THE EXHAUST GASES OF A FLARE BOOM WHICH WAS BURNING EXCESS GAS. WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ADD POWER TO ARREST HIS DESCENT AND BRING THE HELICOPTER TO A HOVER FOR LANDING, HE GOT NO ENGINE RESPONSE. THE HELICOPTER SETTLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE EDGE OF THE PLATFORM AND DESCENDED IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE INTO THE WATER ADJACENT TO THE PLATFORM. THE PILOT AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER EXITED THE HELICOPTER UNAIDED AND WERE PICKED UP BY A BOAT IN THE VICINITY. THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER DID NOT GET OUT OF THE HELICOPTER AND DROWNED. THE PILOT SAID HE GOT A LOW ROTOR WARNING JUST BEFORE THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE PLATFORM, BUT DID NOT GET AN ENGINE WARNING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.