Summary
A helicopter experienced a loss of directional control while attempting to take off from an offshore oil platform. The incident resulted in the helicopter sliding across the helipad, contacting the safety perimeter, and eventually sliding over the edge to come to rest on the platform's lower deck.
Event Details
The pilot reported that the helicopter was facing downwind as he prepared for takeoff. Upon advancing the throttle to full power, the helicopter began sliding across the platform. The pilot reduced the throttle, and the helicopter stopped briefly before starting to slide again. During the slide, the helicopter turned 180 degrees to the left, into the wind, and contacted the safety area around the perimeter of the helipad. The pilot then applied throttle and collective in an attempt to take off, but the helicopter began bouncing on the edge of the helipad. It subsequently slid over the edge and came to rest on the lower deck of the platform. The wind at the time was reported by the pilot as east-southeast at 25 knots.
Postaccident Inspection
An inspection conducted after the incident disclosed continuity of the flight controls to the cyclic, collective, and tail rotor systems. No further details about the condition of the helicopter or the platform were provided.