Sikorsky S-92A incident near Galliano, Louisiana, March 22, 2010
On March 22, 2010 at about 12:05 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-92A (helicopter), registered N921AL, suffered minor damage in an incident during enroute near Galliano, Louisiana (Air Logistics Galliano airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 14 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An unsecured access door, which departed the helicopter and damaged a main rotor blade and a tail rotor blade. Contributing to the incident was the helicopter's color scheme, which made visual inspection of the door difficult.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 2010 · about 12:05 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Galliano, Louisiana · Air Logistics Galliano · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 14 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-92A · all S-92As on the register
- Registration
- N921AL · registry record · serial 920090
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to takeoff, the helicopter's upper Environmental Control System (ECS) panel was not properly secured. The helicopter departed to an off-station platform and returned back to the home base. At an unknown time during the flight the ECS panel departed the helicopter, resulting in damage to one main rotor blade and one tail rotor blade. The helicopter's ECS and auxiliary power unit panels were both painted the same color, impeding visual inspection of the panels for proper closure.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Service doors › Incorrect service/maintenance other cases naming the airframe structure
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 18,388 hours in all; 520 in this make and model; 38 in the last 30 days; 12,669 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,046 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 99 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 4,191 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 640 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 23, 2010; 140 hours since
- Seats: 19
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Ge CT7-8A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CT7-8A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bristow U.S. LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 2LS0 Galliano LA at 12:05 pm
- Destination: 2LS0 Galliano LA
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:01 pm from KGAO, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 12 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 26, 2010. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo: Missing Ecs Door | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N921AL on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Sikorsky S-92 44 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Sikorsky 827 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Ge CT7-8A 43 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Ge CT7-8A 43 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bristow US LLC Heliport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Louisiana 1,274 since 1982 · 189 in the last ten years
- Louisiana 3,729 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN10IA169.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.