Bell 206-L4 N177AL

Summary

On 31 December 2002 at about 15:15 local time, a Bell 206-L4 registered N177AL was involved in an accident near High Island 471, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 December 2002 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

High Island 471, United States

Coordinates

28.2667, -94.0500

Aircraft

Bell 206-L4

Registration

N177AL

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

High Island 471 → High Island 471

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03LA072

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's attempt to takeoff during known adverse weather conditions and failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the gusty and high wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While repositioning the helicopter on an offshore platform during gusty wind conditions, the pilot lost control of the helicopter. On the morning of the accident flight, the pilot completed a preflight of the helicopter and noted no discrepancies with the helicopter. After the preflight, the pilot delayed the flight until the winds subsided. After an uneventful engine start, the helicopter lifted off the platform to a 3 to 5-foot hover, and the pilot turned the helicopter 180 degrees into the wind. After a sudden wind gust of approximately 30 knots, the pilot set the helicopter back down onto the platform. The pilot stated that the wind gusts subsided to 20 knots, and he attempted to takeoff from the platform again. During the takeoff, the helicopter "immediately started to bounce uncontrollably and [slide] to the left (south)." The helicopter came to rest upright on the safety fence of the platform. The tail boom was partially separated, and the skids and the main rotor mast were bent. No pre-accident anomalies were noted during examination of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.