ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 121307
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| Date: | Thursday 24 March 2011 |
| Time: | 16:55 |
| Type: |  Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III |
| Owner/operator: | PHI Inc |
| Registration: | N32041 |
| MSN: | 51539 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1991 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 11510 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C30 SER |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Main Pass 61A offshore platform, Gulf of Mexico -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Offshore |
| Departure airport: | Main Pass 61A, GM |
| Main Pass 61A, GM | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
After the helicopter was refueled with the engine running, the pilot departed from an offshore oil platform. The pilot and the two passengers reported a loud bang just after the turboshaft-powered helicopter lifted off. The pilot immediately lowered the helicopter’s nose and entered an autorotation to the water below; as the helicopter descended, the pilot activated the helicopter’s float system. The floats inflated; however, the helicopter impacted the water and rolled inverted. Examination of the helicopter’s engine found no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of data downloaded from the engine’s data monitoring system revealed a “spike” in the engine’s turbine outlet temperature and torque readings. The oil platform was venting un-ignited methane gas at the time the helicopter departed the platform. It is likely that the helicopter’s engine experienced a compressor stall due to ingesting the methane gas, and the pilot immediately reacted by initiating an autorotation.
Probable Cause: The loss of engine power due to an engine compressor stall as a result of ingesting methane gas during takeoff.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 25-Mar-2011 08:59 | gerard57 | Added |
| 25-Mar-2011 14:09 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 25-Mar-2011 14:42 | Anon. | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Nature, Damage, Narrative] |
| 25-Mar-2011 16:22 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 02-Sep-2014 17:37 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 02-Sep-2014 17:39 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport] |
| 02-Sep-2014 18:29 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 02-Sep-2014 18:30 | Anon. | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 18-Jan-2015 15:54 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 27-Nov-2017 16:46 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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