Aerospatiale AS355F-1 N5791N

Summary

On 23 January 1990 at about 22:35 local time, a Aerospatiale AS355F-1 registered N5791N, operated by Petroleum Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near High Island AO6. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 January 1990 at 22:35

Classification

Accident

Location

High Island AO6

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS355F-1

Registration

N5791N

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Petroleum Helicopters Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

High Island 511 → Sabine Pass

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW90LA060

1 person died.

UNDETERMINED DUE TO THE LACK OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY FROM AN OFFSHORE LOCATION TO A COMPANY ONSHORE BASE. THE WEATHER WAS IMC ALONG THE ENTIRE TEXAS COAST, WITH FOG REPORTED BOTH ON AND OFFSHORE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CHANGE DESTINATIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET ONSHORE. THE LAST COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PILOT INDICATED THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES OFFSHORE FROM ITS DESTINATION. THE PILOT AND THE HELICOPTER WERE NOT RECOVERED. SEVERAL PARTS FROM THE HELICOPTER WERE RECOVERED AND IDENTIFIED. THE HELICOPTER WAS EQUIPPED FOR BASIC VFR FLIGHT ONLY AND THE PILOT LACKED RECENT INSTRUMENT TIME.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.