Bell 407 N164RL

Summary

On 4 May 2009 at about 20:55 local time, a Bell 407 registered N164RL, operated by Rotorcraft Leasing Co LLC, was involved in an accident near High Island 138, 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

4 May 2009 at 20:55

Classification

Accident

Location

High Island 138, United States

Nearest airport

High Island 138 (000)

Coordinates

29.2664, -94.2500

Aircraft

Bell 407

Registration

N164RL

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Rotorcraft Leasing Co LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

High Island 170 → High Island 138

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA275

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the windsock during the approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was approaching an off-shore oil platform and positioned the helicopter to land "into the wind." The intended flight path crossed over a crane with a windsock on top. Having observed the obstructions, the pilot continued the approach to the helideck. As the helicopter overflew the crane, the helicopter's tail rotor contacted the windsock, resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter's tail boom section. The pilot was able to land the damaged helicopter on the oil platform's helideck.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.