What happened
Following liftoff from an offshore platform, the pilot reached an airspeed of 60 knots and climbed to an altitude of 200 feet AGL. As the pilot entered a left turn, the aircraft began to settle and subsequently impacted the water.
Witnesses positioned on the third deck below the helideck observed the aircraft descending below their level as it departed the helideck. These witnesses reported that the aircraft maintained a steep left bank and a nose-down attitude from the moment it left the platform until the moment of water impact. This flight attitude was also confirmed by the passenger seated in the front left seat.
The investigation
Investigators found no evidence of any pre-impact failure or malfunction within the engine or the rotor drive train.