Pilot Debrief

BELL 430 near West Delta 109 — 2014-01-05

Final reportCEN14LA103
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Date
2014-01-05
Location
West Delta 109, USA
Aircraft
BELL 430
Registration
N430CT
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from a handrail on a crane davit on an oil platform during landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that she was making a normal approach to the oil platform. Both cranes were shut down on the oil platform, and she received a green deck for landing. The helicopter was over the landing circle when she turned the helicopter's tail and felt a severe shudder. She immediately landed and shut down the helicopter. The examination of the helicopter and landing platform revealed that the tail rotor blades had struck a handrail on the east crane davit, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox and drivetrain.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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