SASless
20th Oct 2005, 17:58
NTSB Identification: DFW06FAMS1
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Thursday, October 06, 2005 in
Aircraft: Bell 206-L3, registration: N6560K
Injuries: 3 Fatal.
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 October 6, 2005, approximately 1645 central daylight time, a single-engine Bell 206-L3 helicopter, N6560K, registered to and operated by Industrial Helicopters, Inc., of Lafayette, Louisiana, disappeared under unknown circumstances while operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The status of the commercial pilot and the two passengers is unknown. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight.
During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB, a representative of the operator stated that the helicopter made two flights on the day of the accident. The first flight originated from a company heliport near Scott, Louisiana, approximately 1200, to the South Marsh Island 23 platform to refuel. The helicopter then departed South Marsh Island 23 for an approximate 30-minute flight to the Vermillion 408 manned oil platform, and later returned to the company heliport near Scott, Louisiana.
The second flight of the day originated from the company heliport near Scott, Louisiana, at an unknown time, destined for the South Marsh Island 23 to again receive fuel. The helicopter then departed South Marsh Island 23 to the Vermillion 408 manned oil platform. The helicopter then flew from Vermillion 408 to the Vermillion 369 unmanned oil platform (approximately 5-6 miles away), where it picked up three passengers and returned to Vermillion 408.
Approximately 1645, the helicopter departed Vermillion 408 destined for Vermillion 369 to pick up the only two remaining maintenance personnel on the unmanned platform. The two passengers were not found on the platform and it is assumed that they boarded the helicopter for their scheduled flight back to the company heliport near Scott, Louisiana.
No distress calls were received by the operator's dispatch or any aircraft flying in the area. When the helicopter failed to make its required position reports, a search was initiated. Search and rescue efforts by the United States Coast Guard ceased on October 10, 2005; however, search and rescue efforts were continued by the operator.
A pilot flying in the area of Vermillion 369 reported that, around the helicopter went missing, the sky was clear.
At 1653, the automated surface observing system at the Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), near Lafayette, Louisiana, approximately six miles southwest of Scott, Louisiana, reported wind from 020 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 89 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.80 inches of Mercury.
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Thursday, October 06, 2005 in
Aircraft: Bell 206-L3, registration: N6560K
Injuries: 3 Fatal.
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 October 6, 2005, approximately 1645 central daylight time, a single-engine Bell 206-L3 helicopter, N6560K, registered to and operated by Industrial Helicopters, Inc., of Lafayette, Louisiana, disappeared under unknown circumstances while operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The status of the commercial pilot and the two passengers is unknown. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight.
During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB, a representative of the operator stated that the helicopter made two flights on the day of the accident. The first flight originated from a company heliport near Scott, Louisiana, approximately 1200, to the South Marsh Island 23 platform to refuel. The helicopter then departed South Marsh Island 23 for an approximate 30-minute flight to the Vermillion 408 manned oil platform, and later returned to the company heliport near Scott, Louisiana.
The second flight of the day originated from the company heliport near Scott, Louisiana, at an unknown time, destined for the South Marsh Island 23 to again receive fuel. The helicopter then departed South Marsh Island 23 to the Vermillion 408 manned oil platform. The helicopter then flew from Vermillion 408 to the Vermillion 369 unmanned oil platform (approximately 5-6 miles away), where it picked up three passengers and returned to Vermillion 408.
Approximately 1645, the helicopter departed Vermillion 408 destined for Vermillion 369 to pick up the only two remaining maintenance personnel on the unmanned platform. The two passengers were not found on the platform and it is assumed that they boarded the helicopter for their scheduled flight back to the company heliport near Scott, Louisiana.
No distress calls were received by the operator's dispatch or any aircraft flying in the area. When the helicopter failed to make its required position reports, a search was initiated. Search and rescue efforts by the United States Coast Guard ceased on October 10, 2005; however, search and rescue efforts were continued by the operator.
A pilot flying in the area of Vermillion 369 reported that, around the helicopter went missing, the sky was clear.
At 1653, the automated surface observing system at the Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), near Lafayette, Louisiana, approximately six miles southwest of Scott, Louisiana, reported wind from 020 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 89 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.80 inches of Mercury.