What happened
A flight was underway to transport two company employees to an island situated 22 miles offshore. During the flight, weather conditions along the coast featured overcast skies with cloud bases ranging from 700 to 1,100 feet and tops between 1,900 and 2,200 feet. General visibility was reported in the 4- to 5-mile range. However, witnesses on the ground and the pilot noted a localized area near the accident site where cloud bases were lower, between 350 and 500 feet, and visibility was reduced to approximately 1.5 miles.
Radar data analysis showed the helicopter descended from a cruise altitude of 900 feet and crossed the shoreline at 400 feet. Upon reaching the accident site location, the aircraft climbed to 600 feet over a period of 19 seconds. It then executed a right turn to a northerly heading while climbing from 600 to 900 feet, with a calculated turn radius of 720 feet and an average ground speed of 69 knots.
Following this, the aircraft descended to 700 feet as the radar track indicated a wide left turn that subsequently reversed into a tight right turn. The final four radar returns indicated a right turn with a 120-foot radius at a constant Mode C altitude of 700 feet and an average ground speed of 67 knots. The final radar return was recorded as a secondary beacon without a Mode C altitude report. The wreckage was located on the ocean floor approximately 200 feet from the location of this last radar return.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.