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January 3, 1989 · Bell 206B-III · N22704
S.Timbalier 151
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 3, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
S.Timbalier 151
Aircraft
Bell 206B-III
Tail Number
N22704
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW89LA036
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE DURING A SLING LOAD PICK UP ON AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE LEFT SKID AND FLOAT STRUCK A HANDRAIL ON THE RIG AND SEPARATED. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE WATER, NOSE LOW, AND ROLLED OVER AS A RESULT OF THE SEPARATED FLOAT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENG FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF A 6TH STAGE COMPRESSOR WHEEL FATIGUE FAILURE. THE WHEEL FATIGUE ORIGINATED AT A CASTING INCLUSION THAT HAD NOT BEEN DETECTED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
NTSB Probable Cause
A COLLISION BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PLATFORM DURING THE EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT SKID AND FLOAT TO SEPARATE AND DESTABILIZED THE AUTOROTATION. THE COLLISION WAS PROBABLY UNADOIDABLE DUE TO THE MANEUVER THAT WAS BEING CONDUCTED AT THE ONSET OF THE EMERGENCY. THE EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAILURE THAT WAS THE RESULT OF A TOTAL COMPRESSOR FAILURE. THE COMPRESSOR FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE SIXTH STAGE WHEEL WHICH SEPARATED. THE FAILURE WAS INITIATED DUE TO A CASTING INCLUSION IN THE WHEEL WHICH WAS NOT DETECTED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
Full Narrative
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE DURING A SLING LOAD PICK UP ON AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE LEFT SKID AND FLOAT STRUCK A HANDRAIL ON THE RIG AND SEPARATED. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE WATER, NOSE LOW, AND ROLLED OVER AS A RESULT OF THE SEPARATED FLOAT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENG FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF A 6TH STAGE COMPRESSOR WHEEL FATIGUE FAILURE. THE WHEEL FATIGUE ORIGINATED AT A CASTING INCLUSION THAT HAD NOT BEEN DETECTED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:50 UTC
Nearest AirportS. Tim 151 (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBell 206B-III
Tail NumberN22704
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 133
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 420
Seats5
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 40 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 16 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 10000 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:50
Weather SourceWFAC