High Island A-474-A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

High Island 474
Tuesady, October 10, 1989 12:29 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TAKEOFF WITH THE AIRCRAFT STILL PARTIALLY TIED TO THE DRILLING RIG PLATFORM. ONE TIE-DOWN STRAP WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF, AND THE PILOT STARTED A PEDAL TURN TO GAIN THE WIND ADVANTAGE. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED RAPIDLY TO THE RIGHT. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE DECK, AND THE HELICOPTER ENDED UP ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF WITH ONE TIE-DOWN STRAP STILL ATTACHED TO THE HELICOPTER WHICH RESULTED FROM AN INADEQUATEPREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/10/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1229
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HIGH ISLAND 474
Event State GULF OF MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HIGH ISLAND A-474-A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 110
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 783
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 10 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40284
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3889W
NTSB Number FTW90LA007
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B-III
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B-III
Aircraft Serial Number 3570
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Sep 29 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7651
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FONDILIER, SAMUEL I
Aircraft Owner Street Address 48 WOOD LANE
Aircraft Owner City BOYNTON BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33436
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR LOGISTICS, INCORPORATED
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
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1229
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --