N39HC
BELL 206L-1
THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED AN OFF-SHORE OIL PLATFORM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, EN ROUTE TO AN ON-SHORE LOCATION. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING, WHICH INFORMED HIM OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS IN THE AREA. HE DID NOT MAKE A MANDATORY 15 MINUTE FLIGHT FOLLOWING CONTACT AFTER DEPARTURE & WAS PRESUMED TO BE MISSING. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT IT WAS HAMPERED BY INCLEMENT WEATHER. NEITHER THE MAIN WRECKAGE NOR THE OCCUPANTS WERE FOUND. THE LOWER FLOORING OF THE CABIN SECTION, A SKID, AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIP WERE FOUND FLOATING IN THE WATER & WERE RECOVERED. AN EXAM OF THOSE ITEMS REVEALED SIGNATURES CONSISTENT WITH A HIGH SPEED IMPACT WITH THE WATER.
FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S), THE HELICOPER CRASHED AT SEA (GULF OF MEXICO) IN AN AREA WITH A LOW CEILING, RAIN, AND THUNDERSTORMS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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