Bell 206 N887T

Summary

On 13 April 2011 at about 15:30 local time, a Bell 206 registered N887T, operated by El Paso CGP LLC, was involved in an accident near Venice, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 April 2011 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Venice, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

28.9503, -89.3858

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N887T

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

El Paso CGP LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houma → Venice

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA303

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper use of the collective and cyclic control during taxi operations, which induced a dynamic rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was water-taxiing a fixed-float equipped helicopter in a right sideways direction when the helicopter rolled to the right, impacted the water, rolled inverted, and sank. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was able to exit the inverted cockpit, inflate his life vest and swim to shore. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, tail rotor, and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. The characteristics displayed by the helicopter were indicative of it encountering a dynamic rollover.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.