Sikorsky S-76C N781P

Summary

On 24 September 2012 at about 21:45 local time, a Sikorsky S-76C registered N781P, operated by PHI Inc, was involved in an accident near Theodore, Alabama, United States. 2 people were 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

24 September 2012 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Theodore, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Bayou La Batre (2AL4)

Coordinates

30.4336, -88.1764

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-76C

Registration

N781P

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

PHI Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bayou La Batre → Houma

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA580

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance while taxiing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during a hover-taxi maneuver, the tail rotor made contact with the main rotor blade of a parked helicopter that was tied down. The taxiing helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor blades. The pilot did not report and postaccident examination did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.