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Cases › CEN14FA286 · Part 135 fatal

BELL 206 L4Westwind Helicopter LLC

South Timbalier Platform, USA · 2014-06-11·N207MY

2
fatal
0
serious
Fatal
highest injury
Destroyed
damage
AnalyseThe analystOne timeline · precedents · ask the docket · what the record saysGenerateInvestigation briefFacts, cause, recorder extremes, sequence, sourcesSourceNTSB docket8 documents on data.ntsb.gov

What happened

NTSB summary, verbatim

The commercial-rated pilot and passenger were en route to an oil platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. A witness, who was on the platform, saw the helicopter heading toward the platform. As the helicopter approached, it started to spin in a clockwise direction. The helicopter spun several times before it dropped to the water. Examination of the helicopter and rotor system did not reveal any preimpact abnormalities. Weather stations located about 26 and 48 miles from the accident site reported favorable conditions with relatively light wind. Given the lack of specific wind information for the accident location and the lack of information regarding the helicopter's direction, speed, and altitude as it approached the platform, it could not be determined if the helicopter experienced a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. A medical review of the pilot noted discrepancies between his declared medical conditions and medicine usage and those found during the autopsy and toxicology tests. However, there was not enough information to determine whether a medical issue resulted in the pilot's loss of helicopter control.

Probable cause

the Board's determination
The pilot's loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Occurrence sequence

3 stepsNTSB coding · CICTT taxonomy
  1. 1 · Approach
    Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
  2. 2 · Approach
    Loss of control in flight
    defining event
  3. 3 · Approach
    Unknown or undetermined

Findings

1 causal · 1 contributing
  • CAUSE
    Not determined › Not determined › (general) — Unknown/Not determined
  • FACTOR
    Personnel issues › Physical › Health/Fitness › Predisposing condition — Pilot

NTSB analysis

from the final report

The commercial-rated pilot and passenger were en route to an oil platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. A witness, who was on the platform, saw the helicopter heading toward the platform. As the helicopter approached, it started to spin in a clockwise direction. The helicopter spun several times before it dropped to the water. Examination of the helicopter and rotor system did not reveal any preimpact abnormalities. Weather stations located about 26 and 48 miles from the accident site reported favorable conditions with relatively light wind. Given the lack of specific wind information for the accident location and the lack of information regarding the helicopter's direction, speed, and altitude as it approached the platform, it could not be determined if the helicopter experienced a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. A medical review of the pilot noted discrepancies between his declared medical conditions and medicine usage and those found during the autopsy and toxicology tests. However, there was not enough information to determine whether a medical issue resulted in the pilot's loss of helicopter control.