Incident Overview
A helicopter conducting offshore operations departed its company base for an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The flight was scheduled to pick up three passengers for daily platform checks. Upon arrival, the pilot landed on the helideck with the nose into the wind, oriented toward the northeast stairs.
Passenger Interaction
Before landing, the pilot asked if the passengers had any questions about aircraft safety. The pilot noted that he had previously briefed and flown with these passengers, and they indicated no questions regarding safety or emergency equipment.
Helideck Configuration
The oil platform's helideck measured 40 feet by 40 feet and featured two stairways: one on the northeast side and another on the southwest side.
Sequence of Events
After landing, with the helicopter idling, two passengers exited and descended the northeast stairs. Approximately five minutes later, one of those passengers reappeared from the northeast stairway and approached the helicopter from the front. Simultaneously, the remaining passenger entered the helideck from the southwest stairway and approached the helicopter from the rear, walking into the idling helicopter's tail rotor.
Investigation
No official probable cause has been stated in the source material. The incident remains under review by relevant authorities.