Incident Overview
On July 26, 2010, at approximately 1442 central daylight time, a Bell 206L4 helicopter, registration N317RL, experienced a loss of main rotor rpm shortly after takeoff from the South Timbalier 178A offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The helicopter was about 63 miles southwest of Houma, Louisiana, at the time. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured.
Flight and Operation Details
The helicopter was registered to and operated by Rotorcraft Leasing Company LLC, based in Broussard, Louisiana. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand passenger flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the area, and a company flight plan had been filed. The intended destination was another nearby offshore platform.
Pilot Actions and Evacuation
The pilot reported hearing loud banging noises from the rear of the helicopter during takeoff, accompanied by a loss of main rotor rpm. The pilot activated the emergency float system and initiated an autorotation to the water. Upon touchdown, the engine was still running. The pilot then shut down the engine and prepared the passengers for evacuation. All three occupants safely evacuated the helicopter, which remained upright on its skid-mounted float system, and boarded an emergency life raft inflated by the pilot. A nearby surface vessel rendered assistance and transported the occupants to a nearby platform. A Coast Guard helicopter later transported them to an on-shore location for medical evaluation.
Post-Incident Examination
The helicopter remained floating upright and was subsequently recovered and transported to the operator's on-shore maintenance facility. The operator conducted immediate fuel quality tests at the facility where the helicopter had most recently been refueled and found no issues. An examination of the helicopter's drive systems revealed no preincident anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was removed intact and operated within normal parameters during a test cell run. The reason for the pilot's report of a partial loss of main rotor rpm could not be determined.