Incident Overview
Approximately 10 minutes after departing an offshore platform, the pilot of a helicopter encountered an area of fog. In response, the pilot descended to about 200 feet and reduced speed to 40 knots before initiating a turn back toward the departure point.
Sequence of Events
During the turn, the pilot was looking to the right to locate a petroleum production facility intended as a visual reference point. While the pilot was focused on identifying the facility, the helicopter struck the water surface and crashed.
Injuries and Rescue
No serious injuries were reported as a result of the crash. However, rescue operations were delayed by approximately 5 hours due to deteriorating weather conditions in the area.