Bell 407 accident near Galliano, LA
On December 29, 2022, a Bell 407 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Galliano, LA. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 29, 2022
- Place
- Galliano, LA
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 28.832°N, 89.558°W
- NTSB ID
- 20221229106511
Official records · CEN23FA071
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Onboard Image, Audio, And Data Recorder - Group Chairman's Factual Report: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 29, 2022, about 0832 central standard time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N595RL, was substantially damaged during takeoff from an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The pilot and 3 passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 flight. According to a review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) track data and video/parametric data recovered from a cockpit recorder, about 0748, the helicopter departed the Rotorcraft Leasing Company LLC (RLC) base located at South Lafourche Leonard Miller Jr. Airport (GAO), Galliano, Louisiana, for a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight to the West Delta 106 (WD-106) offshore production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The direct flight path to WD-106 was 51.3 nautical miles southeast of GAO. A review of the cockpit video and recorded parametric data established that the 38-minute flight from GAO to WD-106 was uneventful. About 0826, the helicopter landed on the platform’s helideck on a magnetic heading of about 145° and then the engine power reduced to about idle. The pilot landed on a southeast heading. The 4 passengers exited from the left side of the helicopter, retrieved their baggage and a 70-lb box, and then proceeded below the helideck, where they had a short discussion with the platform workers scheduled to return to the mainland. Then 3 platform workers boarded the helicopter for the return flight to GAO. Based on the cockpit video footage, the pilot remained in the helicopter
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to ensure the helicopter was clear of obstacles before takeoff from the helideck, which resulted in the helicopter’s right landing skid pivoting about a helideck perimeter light during takeoff and a dynamic rollover. Additionally, the pilot’s improper takeoff technique likely contributed to the development of dynamic rollover.
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.
