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NTSB Report
August 8, 1982 · Bell 206B · N59504
Grand Isle, LA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 8, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Grand Isle, LA
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Tail Number
N59504
Operator
Petroleum Helicopter
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW82DA323
THE PILOT WAS APPROACHING AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM FOR LANDING AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL WHEN HE FELT THE HELICOPTER SHUDDER. HE ALSO HEARD AN ENGINE-OUT HORN AND A LOW-ROTOR-RPM WARNING. HE TURNED AWAY FROM THE PLATFORM, POPPED THE EMERGENCY FLOATS AND INITIATED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. HOWEVER, THE FLOATS WERE NOT YET FULLY INFLATED AT THE TIME OF WATER CONTACT AND THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY FLIPPED INVERTED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE OUTER SHAFT IN THE FREE-WHEELING UNIT HAD FAILED AT THE SPLINE AREA. THIS ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO GO INTO AN OVERSPEED. THEN AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT WAS APPROACHING AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM FOR LANDING AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL WHEN HE FELT THE HELICOPTER SHUDDER. HE ALSO HEARD AN ENGINE-OUT HORN AND A LOW-ROTOR-RPM WARNING. HE TURNED AWAY FROM THE PLATFORM, POPPED THE EMERGENCY FLOATS AND INITIATED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. HOWEVER, THE FLOATS WERE NOT YET FULLY INFLATED AT THE TIME OF WATER CONTACT AND THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY FLIPPED INVERTED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE OUTER SHAFT IN THE FREE-WHEELING UNIT HAD FAILED AT THE SPLINE AREA. THIS ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO GO INTO AN OVERSPEED. THEN AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:45 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBell 206B
Tail NumberN59504
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPetroleum Helicopter
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · C20B · Turboshaft · 420
Seats5
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind135° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter0