Bell 206L N34CA

Summary

On 29 September 2004 at about 11:15 local time, a Bell 206L registered N34CA was involved in an accident near Gulf of Mexico. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 September 2004 at 11:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Gulf of Mexico

Coordinates

29.1667, -88.4500

Aircraft

Bell 206L

Registration

N34CA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Belle Chasse → Gulf of Mexico

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

MIA04LA132

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons while on short final to land on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, which resulted in the pilot ditching the helicopter into the water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that while on approach, within about 300 to 400 yards of the oil platform, as he increased collective input to control the rate of descent, the engine failed to respond normally. As collective input was increased he said the rpms decreased and did not recover, so he stopped applying collective to stop the rotor rpms from decreasing below 90 percent. According to the pilot, no other adverse indications were observed, and the rate of descent increased. He said he applied the remaining collective pitch input to arrest the rate of descent just prior to impacting the water. After impact he said he tried 2 times to inflate the floats, but both attempts were unsuccessful. He and both passengers exited the helicopter, and it sank in about 600 feet of water, and was not recovered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.