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NTSB Report
August 26, 1991 · Bell 412 · N3909F
Garden Banks
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 26, 1991
Injury Outcomes
6 injuries (1 fatality, 4 serious injuries, 1 minor injury), 7 uninjured
Location
Garden Banks
Aircraft
Bell 412
Tail Number
N3909F
Operator
Petroleum Helicopters
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW91FA155
THE HELICOPTER WAS ON FINAL APCH TO AN OIL RIG IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, WHEN TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY & DRCTNL CTL WERE LOST. AS THE CREW BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION TO THE WATER, THE HELICOPTER SPUN OUT OF CTL TO THE RGT. IT MADE 2 TO 3 REVOLUTIONS & IMPACTED THE WATER. THE RGT FLOATATION GEAR DEPLOYED, BUT THE LEFT FLOATATION GEAR DIDN'T DEPLOY, BECAUSE THE PNEUMATIC LINES WERE PULLED APART DRG IMPACT. SUBSEQUENLTY, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER DRG TOUCHDOWN IN THE WATER. THE CREW & 10 OF 11 PSGRS ESCAPED THRU THE EMERG WINDOWS. THE OTR PSGR REMAINED IN HIS SEAT (INCAPACITATED FM INJURIES) & DROWNED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE #1 HANGER BEARING HAD OVERHEATED & DISINTEGRATED AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED.
NTSB Probable Cause
OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE NUMBER ONE TAIL ROTOR HANGER BEARING FOR AN UNDETERINED REASON, AND FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.
Full Narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS ON FINAL APCH TO AN OIL RIG IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, WHEN TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY & DRCTNL CTL WERE LOST. AS THE CREW BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION TO THE WATER, THE HELICOPTER SPUN OUT OF CTL TO THE RGT. IT MADE 2 TO 3 REVOLUTIONS & IMPACTED THE WATER. THE RGT FLOATATION GEAR DEPLOYED, BUT THE LEFT FLOATATION GEAR DIDN'T DEPLOY, BECAUSE THE PNEUMATIC LINES WERE PULLED APART DRG IMPACT. SUBSEQUENLTY, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER DRG TOUCHDOWN IN THE WATER. THE CREW & 10 OF 11 PSGRS ESCAPED THRU THE EMERG WINDOWS. THE OTR PSGR REMAINED IN HIS SEAT (INCAPACITATED FM INJURIES) & DROWNED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE #1 HANGER BEARING HAD OVERHEATED & DISINTEGRATED AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:15 UTC
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBell 412
Tail NumberN3909F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPetroleum Helicopters
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6T-3B · Turboshaft · 1600
Seats13
People & Injuries
Injury Summary6 injuries (1 fatality, 4 serious injuries, 1 minor injury), 7 uninjured
Fatal1
Serious4
Minor1
Uninjured7
Total13
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind70° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT