Bell 206 N317RL

Summary

On 26 July 2010 at about 19:42 local time, a Bell 206 registered N317RL, operated by Rotorcraft Leasing Co LLC, was involved in an incident near Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 2010 at 19:42

Classification

Incident

Location

Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

South Timbalier 178A (NONE)

Coordinates

31.1702, -91.8682

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N317RL

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Rotorcraft Leasing Co LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gulf of Mexico → Gulf of Mexico

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10IA438

Nobody was injured.

The loss of main rotor rpm during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff from an offshore oil platform, the pilot reported a loss of main rotor rpm. The pilot activated the emergency float system and initiated an autorotation to the water. Upon touchdown, the engine was still operating. The pilot shut down the engine and prepared the passengers to evacuate. All three occupants safely evacuated the helicopter (which was upright on its skid-mounted float system) and boarded the emergency life raft that the pilot had inflated. The helicopter remained upright floating on the water and was later recovered and transported to the operator’s on-shore maintenance facility. The operator did immediate fuel quality tests at the facility where the helicopter had most recently been refueled and found no problems. An examination of the helicopter drive systems and a test run of the engine did not reveal any preincident anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the main rotor system. The cause of the loss of main rotor rpm could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.