Bell 407 - NO SERIES accident near South Timbalier 127, June 28, 2015
On June 28, 2015 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1996 Bell 407 - NO SERIES (helicopter), registered N311RL, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near South Timbalier 127. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's lack of awareness of the severity of the gusting winds, which led to the helicopter being pushed off of the oil platform by a wind gust during engine start. Contributing to the accident was the unavailability of a nearby weather monitoring system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2015 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- South Timbalier 127 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 - NO SERIES NO SERIES, built 1996 · all 407 - NO SERIESs on the register
- Registration
- N311RL · registry record · serial 53069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that he had landed the helicopter on the oil platform about 1 hour before the accident. He noted that the weather conditions were deteriorating west and north of the platform; he then decided to depart the platform, which did not have any weather monitoring systems installed. He had initiated the start sequence when a strong wind gust struck the platform and pushed the helicopter off of the raised helideck into the water. Witness reports corroborated the pilot's account, and two of the witnesses reported that the helicopter blades were turning but had not yet reached flight idle speed. If a weather monitoring system had been available, the pilot might have decided not to depart the platform given the gusting wind conditions.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Awareness of condition
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Meteorological services › (general) › Availability of related info
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,162 hours in all; 795 in this make and model; 187 in the last 90 days; 131 in the last 30 days; 5,162 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 3, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,567.9 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 27, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 5,250 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C47 (turboshaft); 5,328 hours total
- Operator: Rotorcraft Leasing Company L L C
The flight
- Departed from: South Timbalier 127 GM
- Destination: Ss-189B GM
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 26 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KMDJ, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.