NTSB Identification: CEN15LA265
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Monday, June 08, 2015 in Pecan Island, LA
Aircraft: BELL 407, registration: N501PH
Injuries: 5 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. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 8, 2015, at 1432 central daylight time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N501PH, made an autorotation to the ground near Pecan Island, Louisiana. The pilot and four passengers were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to and operated by PHI Inc., Lafayette, Louisiana, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an air taxi flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Vermilion Block 256-E in the Gulf of Mexico and was en route to Pecan Island.
According to the operator, the helicopter was in cruise flight about 1,000 feet above ground level when the pilot felt a "thud" and a slight vibration. The vibration worsened and the helicopter began a slow right turn so the pilot entered an autorotation. With the floats inflated, the pilot made a hard forced landing into a marsh with tall grass. During the landing, the tail rotor gear box separated from the helicopter and was located in the marsh.
At 14:53, the automated weather observation at the Acadiana Regional Airport, located 35 miles northeast of the accident site, reported wind from 140 degrees at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, temperature 84° F, dew point 73° F, and altimeter 29.98 inches of mercury.
The helicopter has been retained for further examination.