Quote:
The forecast indicated
isolated rain showers, some possibly heavy, some possible lightning and the potential for winds in the 35 knot range – in short, a typical November weather forecast for the deep Gulf of Mexico.
The weather allowed the flight to be conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
The flight would take approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes.
Approximately five minutes prior to landing, the crew called the rig and received a “green deck” signal, indicating permission to land. The Pilot in Command (PIC) asked for and received the updated weather report from the rig.
Upon arrival in the lease block, the crew encountered increasing
heavy rain showers as they circled the rig to position the aircraft for a landing into the wind.
On final approach but still safely away from the structure, the aircraft
encountered a severe downdraft along with an extremely heavy rain shower that forced the aircraft to descend below the level of the helideck. The SIC increased power; however, the severe downdraft continued to force the aircraft to descend.
As a precaution, the crew inflated the aircraft emergency floats.
The aircraft’s
descent was arrested within a few feet of the water.
The crew never stopped flying the aircraft. This action averted a potential disaster.
With the severe downdraft subsided, the crew safely returned the aircraft to the heliport
(
returned?? they had not arrived) and all passengers disembarked unharmed.
There was no visual evidence
of damage to the aircraft nor at anytime did the aircraft enter the water during the event.
(luckily)