Accident
While attempting to fly to an offshore platform, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather. The weather had been forecast and briefed to the pilot. He landed at another platform short of his destination. After a brief delay, he took off again but again encountered weather and attempted to divert to a third platform. Unable to reach either his destination or other platforms, the pilot set up an orbit to wait out the thunderstorms and squalls in the area.
Passengers stated the pilot made four or five orbits during which he slowed the aircraft and it began descending. One of the passengers was about to warn the pilot of his low altitude when the aircraft was struck by a 15-foot swell and rolled into the water.
Rescue
All three occupants were able to exit the wreckage and inflate their life vests. One of the passengers swam about two miles to a rig and reported the accident. Both passengers were subsequently rescued about 10 hours after the accident. When rescuers found the pilot, he was unconscious, floating face down in the water. During the attempted recovery, his life vest came off and he sank below the surface.