Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Offshore Oil
Thursday, March 24, 1988 11:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER LANDING ON THE PLATFORM, THE COPILOT MOVED THE POWER LEVERS TO FLIGHT IDLE AND SET THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIP PATH PLANE TO THE HEIGHT NORMALLY USED. WHEN AN ENPLANNING PASSENGER CAME UP THE STAIRS ONTO THE PLATFORM, HE WAS STRUCK ON THE HEAD BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE INJURED PASSENGER HAD BEEN REQUIRED TO VIEW A VIDEO TAPE RECORDING THAT SHOWED THE PROPER PROCEDURES TO USE WHEN ENPLANNING OR DEPLANNING. ADDITIONALLY, THEY REPORTED THAT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS TO BEND OVER TO LOWER HIS HEIGHT WHEN UNDER THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/24/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City OFFSHORE OIL
Event State GULF OF MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 1988
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1315
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 25 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1210
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37410
Date of most recent change to record Feb 25 2004 2:10PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1547N
NTSB Number FTW88LA082
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIKORSKY
Aircraft Model S-76A
Aircraft Series Identifier S-76A
Aircraft Serial Number 760088
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 14 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 97
Airframe Hours 5776
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TOMLINSON LEASING CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 19 RECTOR ST.
Aircraft Owner City NEW YORK
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 10006
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR LOGISTICS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3921 INDUSTRIAL DRIVE
Operator City NEW IBERIA
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 70560
Operator Code ALGA
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 International
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 573B
Departure City OFFSHORE PLAT.
Departure State GM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1052
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City BLOCK 573A
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 9 2004 1:59PM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --