Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

South Pass 65, -- 00000
Thursday, August 19, 2004 7:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 11,750-hour co-pilot heard a "loud bang" followed by a loss of tail rotor control that produced a 30-degree yaw to the right and a 15-20 degree "nose tuck." Subsequently, the co-pilot reduced power and initiated an autorotation to the water, and prior to touchdown, successfully deployed the emergency floats. The reason for the failure and separation of the tail rotor gearbox could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure and separation of the tail rotor gearbox for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 8/19/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 705
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City South Pass 65
Event State GULF OF MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 290558N
Event Location Longitude 0885211W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 26
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 9
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17437
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 19 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2005 6:20AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N22347
NTSB Number FTW04IA217
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 412
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 36005
Certified Max Gross Weight 11900
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 15
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 18 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 14437
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Petroleum Helicopters Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2001 SE Evangeline Thruway
Aircraft Owner City Lafayette
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70508
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 1B7
Departure City Boothville
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 635
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City VK989
Destination State GM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --