Robinson R44 N7188K

Summary

On 29 May 2003 at about 09:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N7188K was involved in an accident near Brazos Blk 532, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

29 May 2003 at 09:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Brazos Blk 532, United States

Coordinates

28.3208, -95.9389

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N7188K

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Mustang Island

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW03LA163

1 person died.

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

During the dark night offshore flight over the Gulf of Mexico, the single-engine helicopter impacted the water. A partial debris field was located; however, the helicopter was not recovered and was presumed destroyed. A company dispatcher stated that the pilot departed the mainland with a load of parts for an offshore platform. For the flight to the platform, the pilot estimated an en route time of 1 hour and 30 minutes and estimated a total fuel on board of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The airline transport rated pilot had accumulated approximately 15,000 flight hours. The operator reported that the airframe and engine had accumulated approximately 730 total hours. The helicopter flight manual and helicopter maintenance records were aboard the helicopter and not recovered. The date and type of the most recent continuous airworthiness inspection was not determined. According to the autopsy report, "[the pilot] died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries sustained in a helicopter accident." The results of the toxicological test were negative for alcohol and all screened drug substances.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.