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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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February 5, 1987 · Bell 206L-1 · N5012Z

Matagorda 665

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 5, 1987
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Matagorda 665
Aircraft
Bell 206L-1
Tail Number
N5012Z
Operator
Air Logistics
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW87LA057

THE PLT TOOK OFF FM AN OFF-SHORE OIL PLATFORM WITH 3 PAX ON BOARD. SHORTLY AFTER DEPG, HE TRANSMITTED A 'MAYDAY,' BUT DID NOT STATE THE NATURE OF THE EMERG. A PAX RPRTD THAT THE ENG SOUND CHANGED & THE PLT TOLD HIM TO 'GET THE RAFT OUT.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN ROUGH WTR & SANK. A SHRIMP BOAT ARRIVED IN ABOUT 30 TO 40 MIN & ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE HELICOPTER WERE RETRIEVED. LATER, THE PLT & 1 PAX DIED FROM INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT RECOVERED, BUT A FLOAT INFLATION BOTTLE WAS FOUND; THE BOTTLE WAS FULLY CHARGED & THE SQUIB HAD NOT BEEN FIRED.

Full Narrative

THE PLT TOOK OFF FM AN OFF-SHORE OIL PLATFORM WITH 3 PAX ON BOARD. SHORTLY AFTER DEPG, HE TRANSMITTED A 'MAYDAY,' BUT DID NOT STATE THE NATURE OF THE EMERG. A PAX RPRTD THAT THE ENG SOUND CHANGED & THE PLT TOLD HIM TO 'GET THE RAFT OUT.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN ROUGH WTR & SANK. A SHRIMP BOAT ARRIVED IN ABOUT 30 TO 40 MIN & ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE HELICOPTER WERE RETRIEVED. LATER, THE PLT & 1 PAX DIED FROM INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT RECOVERED, BUT A FLOAT INFLATION BOTTLE WAS FOUND; THE BOTTLE WAS FULLY CHARGED & THE SQUIB HAD NOT BEEN FIRED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:47 UTC
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206L-1
Tail NumberN5012Z
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAir Logistics
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C28B · Turboshaft · 435
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal2
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 47 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 16 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 59
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data