Bell 212 N5752W
22 April 1982 · Intracoastal Ci, Louisiana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 22 April 1982 at about 19:07 local time, a Bell 212 registered N5752W, operated by Rotor-Aids, Inc., was involved in an accident near Intracoastal Ci, Louisiana, United States. 12 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 19:07
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Intracoastal Ci, Louisiana, United States
- Coordinates
- 29.9708, -92.1199
- Aircraft
- Bell 212
- Registration
- N5752W
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Rotor-Aids, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- High Island Blk → Intracoastal Ci
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW82FA145
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN A SUDDEN AND SEVERE RIGHT YAW OCCURRED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WAS AUTOROTATED TO A DITCHING IN ROUGH WATER. TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE ON TOP OF A WAVE, THEN THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE SURVIVORS DID NOT GET THE RAFT OUT. ANOTHER HELICOPTER ARRIVED BUT COULD NOT LAND IN THE ROUGH SEA. A LIFE RAFT WAS DROPPED, BUT IT WAS BLOWN DOWNWIND BY THE TIME A SURVIVOR (THE COPILOT) SWAM TO IT AND GOT IT INFLATED. THE COPILOT WAS UNABLE TO PADDLE AGAINST THE WIND TO THE OTHER SURVIVORS. THE HELICOPTER SANK BEFORE A RESCUE BOAT ARRIVED. HOWEVER, IT WAS RECOVERED, LATER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FEMALE PORTION OF A TAIL ROTOR COUPLING, PN 204-040-604-5, HAD FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE PROPER TYPE OF LUBRICANT HAD BEEN USED. AN EXAM OF THE COUPLING SEAL, PN 204-040-611-1, REVEALED TEARS AND A CIRCUMFERENTIAL CUT, .14 TO .16 INCH LONG. GREASE WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE CUT AREA. THE HELICOPTER HAD ACCUMULATED 1226 HRS TOTAL TIME AND 376 HRS SINCE OVERHAUL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 212 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jul 1982 | Bell 212 | 38 Se Barrow, Alaska, United States | Kenai Air Alaska Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 1981 | Bell 212 | Angleton, Texas, United States | Houston Helico | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Nov 1983 | Bell 212 | Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 1983 | Bell 212 | Goleta, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 23 Aug 1981 | Bell 212 | Kenai, Alaska, United States | ERA Helicopter | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Jul 1983 | Bell 212 | Eugene Island | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 1982 | Grumman G-164A | Columbia, Louisiana, United States | Jack Keahey | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 1982 | Cessna 150H | Shreveport, Louisiana, United States | ROY LEE Duckett | No injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 1982 | Piper PA-25-235 | Sicily Island, Louisiana, United States | C&F Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1982 | Bell 206L-1 | Houma, Louisiana, United States | Offshore Logistics | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 May 1982 | Cessna A185F | Houma, Louisiana, United States | Dresser Industries | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1982 | Grumman 164 | Reeves, Louisiana, United States | Bell Flying Service | Serious injuries | - |