Bell 206L accident near Gulf Of Mexico, August 17, 2005
On August 17, 2005 at about 3:08 pm local time, a Bell 206L (helicopter), registered N330P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulf Of Mexico. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a stationary object while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2005 · about 3:08 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L · all 206Ls on the register
- Registration
- N330P · registry record · serial 51295
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 2,258-hour pilot made his approach to an oil platform, so he would be landing to the east; there was little or no wind. After crossing the helipad skirting, he flared to zero out his groundspeed. After the pilot leveled-off the helicopter, he heard a clunk and saw debris flying. There were no vibrations nor any abnormal indications, prior to the tail rotor contact with the helipad's fence/skirting. The helicopter came to rest in the middle of the platform facing south.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,258 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,971 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 1, 2005
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C 30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gulf Of Mexico
- Destination: Gulf Of Mexico
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N330P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.