Bell 206B N213AL

Summary

On 23 April 1991 at about 12:45 local time, a Bell 206B registered N213AL, operated by Offshore Logistics, Inc., was involved in an accident near So. Marsh 275. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 April 1991 at 12:45

Classification

Accident

Location

So. Marsh 275

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N213AL

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Offshore Logistics, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

S. Marsh 261 → Ewing Banks 947

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW91FA070

2 people died.

THE INFLIGHT STRUCTURAL FAILURE AND SEPARATION OF THE VERTICAL FIN WHICH LED TO A LOSS OF CONTROL AND MAST BUMPING. THE FAILURE OF THE FIN WAS DUE TO INADEQUATE CORROSION CONTROL EFFORTS BY THE OPERATOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT DID NOT MAKE THE REQUIRED 15 MINUTE RADIO CHECK AFTER DEPARTURE FROM AN OFFSHORE RIG AND A RADIO AND AIR SEARCH WAS INITIATED. ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER, DEBRIS WAS FOUND FLOATING ABOUT THREE MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT. RECOVERED DEBRIS INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD EXPERIENCED AN INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE VERTICAL FIN AND SUBSEQUENT MAST BUMPING. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE VERTICAL FIN ATTACHMENT FITTINGS REVEALED THAT THEY HAD SEPARATED DUE TO FATIGUE INDUCED BY CORROSION AND CORROSION PITTING. THE EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THE OPERATOR HAD UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO COMBAT THE CORROSION DURING A REFURBISHMENT OF THE AIRFRAME. ALL OF THE FATIGUE FRACTURES APPEARED OLD AND ONE HAD PAINT IN THE FRACTURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.