Bell 206L-1 accident near Smi-28, USA

On May 11, 2004, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Smi-28, USA. 1 person died.

Date

May 11, 2004

Place

Smi-28, USA

Aircraft

Bell 206L-1 · Helicopter

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

—

Position

28.887°N, 92.142°W

NTSB ID

20040611X00786

NTSB summary

On May 11, 2004, approximately 0915 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-1, N83MT, registered to and operated by Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., of Lafayette, Louisiana, was not damaged during a pilot incapacitation event on offshore platform SMI-28, in the Gulf of Mexico. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flight. According to the operator, the helicopter departed Erath, Louisiana, with one passenger approximately 0836, en route to Gulf of Mexico offshore platform EC-261. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot changed the destination to SMI-28, due to the weather conditions. After landing, the pilot began to have "labored" breathing and did not respond to the passenger. While his hands were still on the controls, the passenger kept the cyclic centered, removed the pilot's hand from the collective, and rolled the throttle to idle. The passenger continued to talk to the pilot; however, the pilot did not respond and continued to breath in a "labored" manner. Approximately two minutes later, the pilot went limp and slumped forward. The passenger shutdown the engine and applied rotor brake, and when the blades were almost stopped, he exited the helicopter and went to the pilot's side to check for a pulse. Finding none, he tried calling for help on the helicopter radios, and after receiving no answer; he went downstairs to get help from a sandblasting crew on the platform. The passenger an

Probable cause

Incapacitation of the pilot due to a heart attack.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.