Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Houma, Louisiana 70360
Tuesady, March 12, 1996 8:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While supporting a seismic geophysical operation, the helicopter, equipped with a 100-foot long line, was attempting to tow a support boat which was stuck in the mud. The helicopter hovered in a left sidewards direction, in an attempt to dislodge the boat from the mud. Control was lost and the helicopter impacted the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's attempted maneuver which exceeded the dynamic capability of the helicopter.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City HOUMA
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70360
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1447 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HUM
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 84
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 12 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N115FH
NTSB Number FTW96LA147
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206BIII
Aircraft Series Identifier 206BIII
Aircraft Serial Number 2737
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 9 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 8197
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EVERGREEN EQUITY, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3850 THREE MILE LANE
Aircraft Owner City MCMINNVILLE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97128
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EVERGREEN HELICOPTERS INT'L
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2001 TERMINAL DRIVE
Operator City GALVESTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77554
Operator Code EGIL
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code HUM
Departure City
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Hover
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --