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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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January 5, 2014 · Bell 430 · N430CT

West Delta 109

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 5, 2014
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
West Delta 109
Aircraft
Bell 430 (2002)
Tail Number
N430CT
Operator
Chevron U S A
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN14LA103

The pilot reported that she was making a normal approach to the oil platform. Both cranes were shut down on the oil platform, and she received a green deck for landing. The helicopter was over the landing circle when she turned the helicopter's tail and felt a severe shudder. She immediately landed and shut down the helicopter. The examination of the helicopter and landing platform revealed that the tail rotor blades had struck a handrail on the east crane davit, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox and drivetrain.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from a handrail on a crane davit on an oil platform during landing.

Full Narrative

On January 5, 2014, about 1000 central standard time, a Bell B430 helicopter, N430CT, sustained substantial damage during landing when the tail rotor struck a handrail on the crane davit on the West Delta 109 oil platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by Chevron USA Inc., under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The helicopter departed the Chevron Main Pass 313 oil platform about 0930, and was on a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. The pilot reported that both cranes were shut down on the oil platform and she received a "green" deck for landing. The pilot made a normal approach to the platform. The helicopter was over the landing circle when she turned the helicopter's tail and felt a severe shudder. She immediately landed and shut down the helicopter. The examination of the landing platform and helicopter revealed that the tail rotor blades had struck a handrail on the crane davit, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox and drivetrain.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 UTC
Nearest AirportWest Delta 109 (0nm N)
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 430
Tail NumberN430CT
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorChevron U S A
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · 250-C40B · Turboshaft · 715 | Rolls-Royce · 250-C40B · Turboshaft · 715
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.02 inHg
Observation Time14:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data