Accident Overview
The aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Mexico after a suspected engine failure shortly after lifting off from an offshore platform. The wreckage sank and was never recovered.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that during the climb, at 40 knots and 200 feet above the water, he heard a loud squeal, followed by a low RPM audio warning and a loss of engine power. He attempted to inflate the emergency floats two or three times but was unsuccessful. The aircraft then made a hard landing on the water, rolled over, and sank.
Aftermath
The pilot extricated himself from the aircraft and swam back to the rig. He was found several minutes later on the lower boat deck. The wreckage of the aircraft was never located.