ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 31036
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| Date: | Monday 22 September 1997 |
| Time: | 05:30 LT |
| Type: |  Sikorsky S-76A |
| Owner/operator: | Offshore Logistics, Inc. |
| Registration: | N517AL |
| MSN: | 760121 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3734 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C30S |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Patterson, LA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | (KPTN) |
| Grand Chenier, LA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
During the initial takeoff climb at night in fog, the copilot, who was the pilot flying, allowed the helicopter to enter a descent. The pilot-in-command (PIC) was adjusting the instrument lights at the copilot's request, and did not realize the helicopter was descending until it was approximately 100 feet above the ground. The PIC attempted to arrest the descent, but was unable to do so before the helicopter settled into a crop of sugar cane. After the helicopter 'plowed a path' through the crop, it briefly became airborne, then contacted the ground and came to a stop resting on its right side.
Probable Cause: failure of the copilot to maintain a positive rate of climb after takeoff, which led to an inadvertent descent and collision with a crop of sugar cane and the ground. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, fog, and the pilot-in-command's inadequate monitoring of the copilot, when he diverted his attention to adjusting the instrument lights.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW97LA356
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 12-Jun-2010 11:42 | TB | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 14-Jun-2010 05:14 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Damage] |
| 01-Jun-2013 16:00 | TB | Updated [Time, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 08-Nov-2013 14:42 | TB | Updated [Damage] |
| 01-May-2016 17:48 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Narrative] |
| 08-Apr-2024 12:41 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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