ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 135271
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| Date: | Thursday 6 March 2003 |
| Time: | 07:20 |
| Type: |  Eurocopter AS 350B2 Ecureuil |
| Owner/operator: | Taylor Energy Company |
| Registration: | N945PT |
| MSN: | 2848 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1995 |
| Engine model: | Turbomeca Arriel 1d1 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Gulf of Mexico, near Venice, LA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | New Orleans, LA (NEW) |
| MS Canyon 20 | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter impacted water while maneuvering in a turn. The 16,000-hour pilot stated that a weather brief was obtained prior to departure, and the weather reported at Venice, Louisiana, near the intended destination was 2 1/2 statute miles visibility, with increasing visibilities and sky conditions improving. At approximately 0715 and 40 nautical miles northwest Boothville, Louisiana, deteriorating weather conditions developed. The pilot elected to execute a right turn and descend to an altitude where weather conditions were better, and sight of water was evident. At a slow rate of speed "estimated no faster than a walk," the tail rotor struck the water. The aircraft yawed to the left and a ditching maneuver was entered while close to the water at a slow speed. The aircraft impacted the water on its left side and immediately filled with water. Weather conditions at NEW at 0653 were reported as winds calm, visibility 1/2 statute mile, ceiling indefinite at 100 feet, and fog. Weather conditions at Boothville, Louisiana (BVE), 40 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, at 0751, were reported as winds from 180 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 1/4 statute mile, ceiling indefinite at 100 feet, and fog.
Probable Cause: The pilot's inability to maintain directional control following a loss of tail rotor drive. A contributing factor was the fog.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20030310X00307&key=1
FAA register: 2. http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=945PT
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Jul-2014 00:42 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:26 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 08-Dec-2017 18:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Jan-2020 17:57 | Aerossurance | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Nature, Source] |
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