Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gulf Of Mexico
Friday, December 3, 1982 9:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS HIGHER THAN HE INTENDED TO BE OVER THE PLATFORM & HAD SET UP A RIGHT DOWNWIND APCH. HE HAD TROUBLE KEEPING UP THE GROUND TRACK DUE TO STRONG GUSTY WINDS. HE WAS ALMOST OVER THE PLATFORM & MADE A LARGE CORRECTION & BEGAN LETTING DOWN. THE TURN TO FINAL APPROACH WAS LARGER THAN 180 DEG. AS HE WAS APPROACHING AT ABOUT 300 FT, 60 MPH & GETTING READY TO ARM THE FLOATS, THE ACFT BEGAN A SUDDEN RATE OF DESCENT. FULL COLLECTIVE WAS INEFFECTIVE IN STOPPING THE SETTLING & THE ACFT STRUCK THE WATER & CAPSIZED WITHOUT THE POP-OUT FLOATS BEING INFLATED. COMPANY FLIGHT OPERATIONS PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE APPROACH AS FLOWN BY THE PLT WAS NOT ACCORDING TO THEIR NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/3/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City GULF OF MEXICO
Event State GULF OF MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 12
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source --
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 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 67
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 35
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3310
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Apr 1 2005 3:20PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2252Z
NTSB Number FTW83FA051
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206L1
Aircraft Series Identifier 206L1
Aircraft Serial Number 45757
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 456
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS, INC.
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, INC.
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
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City W. CAMERON #199
Departure State GM
Departure Country
Departure Time 824
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City W. CAMERON #180
Destination State GM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
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 --