Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ship Shoal 290K
Monday, June 17, 1991 7:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A LANDING AT AN OFF SHORE OIL RIG THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO DRIFT AND PLACED THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OFF THE PLATFORM ONTO THE SAFETY APRON. THE PIC UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TWO REPOSITIONING MANEUVERS AND THEN DECIDED TO TAKEOFF AND LAND AGAIN. DURING THE TAKEOFF FROM A HOVER THE PIC APPLIED INCREASED COLLECTIVE. THE HELICOPTER RESPONDED BY TURNING RIGHT AROUND ITS VERTICAL AXIS. THE CO-PILOT (CP) INTERPRETERED THE RIGHT TURN AS A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, SO HE BROUGHT BOTH ENGINES OFF LINE BY REDUCING THE SPEED LEVERS TO GROUND IDLE. THE ACTION OF THE CP WAS TAKEN WITHOUT COORDINATION OR ANNOUNCEMENT TO HIS PIC. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE PLATFORM AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO THE WATER. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE DISCOVERED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE COPILOT'S REDUCTION OF POWER TO GROUND IDLE ON BOTH ENGINES. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S POOR LANDING TECHNIQUE AND HIS FAILURE TO ESTABLISH ADEQUATE CREW COORDINATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/17/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 700
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SHIP SHOAL 290K
Event State GULF OF MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 10
Injury Total All 10
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 114
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43125
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5418N
NTSB Number FTW91LA098
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIKORSKY
Aircraft Model S76A
Aircraft Series Identifier S76A
Aircraft Serial Number 760209
Certified Max Gross Weight 10500
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 14
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 90808
Aircraft Owner City LAFAYETTE
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70509
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 90808
Operator City LAFAYETTE
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 70509
Operator Code PHM
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City SHIP SHOAL 209A
Departure State GM
Departure Country
Departure Time 644
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --