Bell 206L-3Petrolium Helicopters Inc.
E.I. 276, LA, USA · 2003-08-13·N41128
What happened
NTSB summary, verbatimThe on-demand offshore helicopter flight received substantial damage when, according to a witness, it rolled right and off the platform during takeoff. A passenger aboard the flight said that the distance between the helicopter's right landing gear skid and the refueling station was enough to allow two people to walk through. Examination of the wreckage and platform revealed the presence of witness marks and paint transfer on the helideck and right landing skid. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported that the helicopter landed next to the refueling station on the helideck with a left crosswind of 10-20 mph and one of these witnesses said that the winds increased to 45-50 mph with misting rain. Another witness said that the wind was high and increased in intensity. Rain was also present and he noted a bolt of lightning in the vicinity. No anomalies were noted with the helicopter's propulsion and flight control systems.
Probable cause
the Board's determinationThe inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions and the directional control not obtained/maintained by the pilot during takeoff. Contributing factors were the crosswind and the planned approach to position the helicopter with a crosswind in order to perform hot refueling adjacent to the helideck refueling station.
NTSB analysis
from the final reportThe on-demand offshore helicopter flight received substantial damage when, according to a witness, it rolled right and off the platform during takeoff. A passenger aboard the flight said that the distance between the helicopter's right landing gear skid and the refueling station was enough to allow two people to walk through. Examination of the wreckage and platform revealed the presence of witness marks and paint transfer on the helideck and right landing skid. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported that the helicopter landed next to the refueling station on the helideck with a left crosswind of 10-20 mph and one of these witnesses said that the winds increased to 45-50 mph with misting rain. Another witness said that the wind was high and increased in intensity. Rain was also present and he noted a bolt of lightning in the vicinity. No anomalies were noted with the helicopter's propulsion and flight control systems.