Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Venice, Louisiana 70091
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 10:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was water-taxiing a fixed-float equipped helicopter in a right sideways direction when the helicopter rolled to the right, impacted the water, rolled inverted, and sank. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was able to exit the inverted cockpit, inflate his life vest and swim to shore. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, tail rotor, and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. The characteristics displayed by the helicopter were indicative of it encountering a dynamic rollover.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper use of the collective and cyclic control during taxi operations, which induced a dynamic rollover.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/2011
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Venice
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70091
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 285701N
Event Location Longitude 0892309W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1051 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 359
Weather Observation Facility ID KBVE
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KBVE 131551Z AUTO 06005KT 10SM CLR 24/15 A3009 RMK
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28640
NTSB Notification Source Direct call to NTSB from Opera
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 25 2011 11:35AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N887T
NTSB Number CEN11CA303
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206
Aircraft Series Identifier B
Aircraft Serial Number 2219
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Mar 21 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 8335
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name EL PASO CGP LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16951 JOHN F KENNEDY BLVD
Aircraft Owner City HOUSTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77032-6019
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name EL PASO CGP LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 16951 JOHN F KENNEDY BLVD
Operator City HOUSTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 77032-6019
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HUM
Departure City HOUMA
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Venice
Destination State LA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 25 2011 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record latt
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --