NTSB Identification: FTW04IA217
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Incident occurred Thursday, August 19, 2004 in South Pass 65, GM
Aircraft: Bell 412, registration: N22347
Injuries: 9 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 19, 2004, approximately 0705 central daylight time, a Bell 412 twin-engine helicopter, N22347, sustained minor damage during a forced landing following a loss of tail rotor control near South Pass 65, an offshore platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. The helicopter was registered to and operated Petroleum Helicopters Inc. (PHI), of Lafayette, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, airline transport pilot, and 7 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight. The cross-country flight originated from Boothville, Louisiana, at 0635, destined for Viosca Knoll 989.
The 11,750-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that while in cruise flight he heard a loud bang followed by an uncontrolled 30-degree yaw to the right and a 15-20 degree "nose tuck." The pilot stated that he attempted to correct the situation by lowering the collective and "trimming the yaw with the pedals;" however, the helicopter failed to respond to his inputs. Subsequently, the pilot reduced power and initiated an autorotation. Prior to water touchdown, the pilot successfully deployed the emergency floats. At an altitude approximately 10 feet above the water, the pilot "pulled pitch" until the helicopter settled onto the water. Both pilots and their passengers evacuated the helicopter to an inflatable life raft.
The helicopter was recovered from the water and transported by truck to the PHI facilities near Lafayette, Louisiana. Examination of the helicopter was conducted by personnel from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), PHI, and Bell Helicopters. The tail rotor blade assembly and a section of the 90-degree tail rotor gearbox were separated.
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was removed from the wreckage, and forwarded to the NTSB laboratories in Washington, D.C., for review.