Pilot Debrief

BELL 230 near Gulf of Mexico, LA — 2011-03-17

Final reportCEN11CA232
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Date
2011-03-17
Location
Gulf of Mexico, LA, USA
Airport
PVT
Aircraft
BELL 230
Registration
N974RH
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the safety skirting during the repositioning landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was asked to reposition the helicopter on the helideck in an effort to clear a space for a helicopter that was coming in to land. During the repositioning landing, the pilot felt a high frequency vibration and the helicopter began to shudder. The pilot landed and after egressing the helicopter, discovered that a piece of tail rotor skin was lodged in the skirting; the tailrotor had impacted the safety skirting. The helicopter's tailboom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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