Bell 407 accident near Chauvin, LA
On February 27, 2017, a Bell 407 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Chauvin, LA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 27, 2017
- Place
- Chauvin, LA
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.439°N, 90.591°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170228X30735
Official records · CEN17FA112
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn February 27, 2017, about 1033 central standard time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N1371, was destroyed when it impacted marshy water 15 miles southwest of Houma, Louisiana (HUM). The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The repositioning flight was operated by Westwind Helicopters under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and a company flight plan was activated. The flight originated at 1014 from offshore oil platform South Timbalier ST37, Gulf of Mexico. Before the accident flight, the helicopter had completed a 14 CFR Part 135 passenger flight from HUM to ST37, dropping off 2 passengers. The passengers reported that the flight to ST37 was normal. According to the operator, the pilot was to return the helicopter to HUM for a minor repair of an engine cowling fastener. The pilot was the only person on board for the approximate 30-minute flight to HUM. The helicopter was equipped with an on-board flight tracking system (Sky Connect). After takeoff from ST37, six flight path data points were recorded at 2-minute intervals and showed the helicopter on a northwest heading. Sky Connect data showed the flight path of the helicopter flying direct toward HUM on a northwest heading. Sky Connect Flight Path Data Points: 1 Heading 207 degrees, altitude 108 feet, ground speed 8 knots (ST37 Departure) 2 Heading 337 degrees, altitude 728 feet, ground speed 148 knots 3 Heading 336 degrees, altitude 699 feet, ground speed 144 knots 4 Heading 336 degree, altitude 486 feet, ground speed 14
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude resulting in a collision with water for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
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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.
