Bell 206B N35WH

Summary

On 30 April 1999 at about 12:30 local time, a Bell 206B registered N35WH was involved in an accident near Brazoria 440L. 4 people were on board. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 April 1999 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Brazoria 440L

Nearest airport

Ba-440L (NONE)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N35WH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Matagorda → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99LA131

Injuries not recorded.

The failure of the platform worker to maintain clearance with the turning tail rotor blades. A factor was the inadequate coordination between the pilot and the passengers pertaining to procedures for disembarking from the helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

An offshore oil platform worker was seriously injured when he walked into a helicopter's turning tail rotor blades. According to the pilot, he landed the helicopter on the platform with the tail rotor over a stairwell in order to land into the wind and avoid a crane operating on the platform. The helicopter was still 'light on the skids,' and he began to reposition the helicopter so the tail rotor would not be over the stairwell. Simultaneously, the rear passenger began to exit the helicopter without receiving authorization. The pilot terminated the repositioning by lowering the collective and rolling the throttle to the idle position. A few seconds had elapsed when the pilot felt a 'nick in the pedals.' Subsequently, one of the passengers notified the pilot that someone had walked into the tail rotor blades. The helicopter was not damaged. According to the passengers, the pilot never indicated to them that he intended to reposition the helicopter. Both passengers exited the helicopter upon hearing the engine power 'spool down.' The front seat passenger was helping the other passenger unload cargo from the helicopter and observed the worker come up the steps into the turning blades.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.