On December 9, 1990, a Bell 206L-1 (registration N5753B) operated by Industrial Helicopters, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near W.cameron 266. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the right rear landing skid due to high cycle low stress fatigue. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter's right rear landing skid collapsed on touchdown at an oil platform helipad, leading to a tail rotor strike, main rotor blade separation, and the fuselage spinning onto a lower deck. Metallurgical examination found fatigue failure.
Incident Overview
An ATP-rated helicopter pilot was conducting a landing on a helipad located atop an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Upon touchdown, the right rear landing skid collapsed, causing the tail rotor to strike the deck. As the pilot applied collective pitch in an attempt to level the aircraft, the helicopter began to spin. The main rotor blades subsequently struck the deck and separated as the fuselage spun off the helideck, eventually coming to rest on a lower deck.
Metallurgical Findings
A metallurgical examination of the failed landing skid revealed that the structural failure was due to high cycle low stress fatigue. This type of fatigue typically occurs from repeated loading below the material's yield strength over many cycles.
Probable cause
The failure of the right rear landing skid due to high cycle low stress fatigue.
What happened in the 9 Dec 1990 Bell 206L-1 accident near W.cameron 266?
A helicopter's right rear landing skid collapsed on touchdown at an oil platform helipad, leading to a tail rotor strike, main rotor blade separation, and the fuselage spinning onto a lower deck. Metallurgical examination found fatigue failure.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 9 Dec 1990 involved a Bell 206L-1, registration N5753B, operated by Industrial Helicopters, Inc., at W.cameron 266.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The failure of the right rear landing skid due to high cycle low stress fatigue.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…