Bell 206L-3 accident near Venice, LA
On May 2, 1995, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Venice, LA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 2, 1995
- Place
- Venice, LA
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.269°N, 89.350°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X03441
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 2, 1995, at 0653 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N347AL, impacted the water following an approach for landing on an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot and one passenger received serious injuries. The other passenger received fatal injuries. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The flight departed Venice, Louisiana, at 0633. According to the pilot and witnesses, the helicopter was in the final stage of approach to Marathon Platform SP86 located 120 degrees at 32 miles from Venice, Louisiana. The pilot added power to come to a hover as he was crossing the platform edge. He said that the engine did not respond to the power demand and the helicopter settled and struck the edge of the platform. The pilot also said that during this time he got a low rotor speed aural warning, but did not get an engine warning. According to witnesses, as the helicopter descended toward the water, after striking the platform, it rolled inverted. The pilot and one passenger exited the helicopter, which was floating inverted, and were picked up by a boat operating in the vicinity. The other passenger was found in the helicopter by divers several hours later. At the time of the accident, the platform had a flare boom in operation to burn off excess gas. This flare boom was located directly upwind from the approach path to the platform landing pad, and persons on the platform said they could f
Probable cause
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO INGESTION OF EXHAUST FUMES FROM AN OIL PLATFORM FLARE BOOM.
More accidents in LA
- Sikorsky S-76C, Jan 4, 2009
- Cessna 411A, May 8, 1986
- Piper PA 31T, Dec 28, 2019
- Beech E90, Jun 24, 2005
- Bell 206L-3, May 10, 1994
Browse: Louisiana · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
