What happened
On 11 July 2011, a Sikorsky S76 C++ helicopter, registration F-HJCS, was performing an offshore operation in the Andaman Sea. After landing on the Yetagun Floating Storage Offloading (FSO) platform to exchange passengers, the crew prepared for a short flight to the nearby Yetagun platform.
During the takeoff phase, as the helicopter climbed vertically to approximately 25 feet, the pilot initiated a cyclic input. Simultaneously, an engine failure occurred. The pilot observed the T5 temperature of the left engine rising into the red zone (reaching 983°C) and heard a distinct clanking noise. Realizing the aircraft was losing power at a very low altitude, the pilot immediately decided to ditch the aircraft in the sea.
The crew deployed the helicopter's flotation devices before impact. The contact with the water was heavy, and the aircraft subsequently capsized onto its left side. While the crew and passengers managed to evacuate the sinking aircraft, the incident resulted in three fatalities, including the co-pilot, and two serious injuries.