17 Mar 2011: BELL 230 — REPUBLIC HELICOPTERS INC

17 Mar 2011: BELL 230 — REPUBLIC HELICOPTERS INC

No fatalities • Gulf of Mexico, LA, United States

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the safety skirting during the repositioning landing.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot was asked to reposition the helicopter on the helideck to make room for a helicopter that was coming in to land. He performed a walk around inspection of the area, and was aware of the location and height of the helideck safety skirting. During the repositioning landing, the pilot felt a high frequency vibration and the helicopter began to shudder. After the accident, a piece of tail rotor skin was found lodged in the skirting. The tailrotor had impacted the skirting. Substantial damage occurred to the helicopter's tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter in reference to the accident flight.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pilot
  • Awareness of condition

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 180/06kt, vis 10sm

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