GOLETA, CA, USA
N59636
BELL 212
THE PLT STATED THAT AS HE APPROACHED THE OIL RIG & REDUCED POWER TO START HIS DESCENT FROM 500 FT, THE TAIL ROTOR (T/R) PEDALS BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE VIBRATIONS BECAME WORSE WITH A FURTHER REDUCTION OF POWER TO REDUCE AIRSPEED. THE PLT THEN PLANNED A DESCENT SO AS TO BE CLOSER TO THE WATER IN CASE OF A COMPLETE T/R FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE ACFT UNEXPECTEDLY STRUCK THE WATER BEFORE THE PLT ARMED THE AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED EMERGENCY FLOTATION BAGS. THE ACFT IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OVER. THE M/R ASSEMBLY, T/R ASSEMBLY AFT OF THE 42 DEG GEAR BOX, VERTICAL FIN & UPPER TRANSMISSION WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE OPERATOR DID NOT HAVE A CFR 135 EXEMPTION ALLOWING SINGLE PILOT OPERATIONAL OF A BELL 212 OVER WATER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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