Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Galveston 395, -- 00000
Friday, September 12, 2003 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 19,000-hour pilot stated he rolled the throttle up to 70% and reached up to turn the generator on when the helicopter started "bouncing and seemed to be centered on the mast as the helicopter rocked on all four corners of the skids." The pilot then verified the collective was all the way down. The helicopter began to spin and he was unable to control with the anti-torque pedals. The pilot stated he centered the cyclic and the "rocking" continued. He rolled the throttle back to flight idle and noticed the helicopter was going over the edge of the platform. Subsequently, the pilot "rolled the throttle to full open as he pulled the collective." The pilot further reported he didn't believe the helicopter developed full power prior to impacting the water. The helicopter landed upright on the water, and came to rest on its right side. The floats were not deployed prior to impact with the water. Despite multiple attempts, the helicopter has not been located and is presumed to be destroyed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The reason for loss of control was undetermined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/12/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Galveston 395
Event State GULF OF MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 282628N
Event Location Longitude 0951455W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 25
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15155
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 13 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Houston, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12HT
NTSB Number FTW03LA224
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206-B3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3064
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 31 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 83.8
Airframe Hours 10084.8
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Go Interests LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 22015 South FWY
Aircraft Owner City Manvel
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77578
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Go-Helitrans
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1702 North Velasco Boulevard
Operator City Freeport
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 77541
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City GLS395
Departure State GM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 97TE
Destination City Freeport
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Standing - idling rotors
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2004 12:48PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --