Aerospatiale AS350BA N147BH

Summary

On 7 July 2003 at about 23:22 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350BA registered N147BH, operated by Texair Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Ship Shoal 80, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 July 2003 at 23:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Ship Shoal 80, United States

Coordinates

28.9167, -91.3000

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS350BA

Registration

N147BH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Texair Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ship Shoal 79 → Ship Shoal 80

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03LA178

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the safety fence while landing on an off-shore helipad.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot made a "normal" approach into the wind to the center of an off-shore helipad and was terminating to a 4 to 5-foot hover. As the pilot leveled the helicopter to set it down on the deck, he heard a loud "metal crunching" noise coming from the rear of the aircraft. The helicopter began rotating to the left and drifting rearward. The pilot was able to set the helicopter on the deck after it made about 1.5 revolutions. The pilot reported that the wind was from 120 degrees at 10 knots. An examination of the landing area, by an FAA inspector, revealed damage to the safety fence that was consistent with tail rotor contact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.