Eurocopter France EC120B incident near S.Timbalier 265, May 13, 2005
On May 13, 2005 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Eurocopter France EC120B (helicopter), registered N588SC, was involved in an incident near S.Timbalier 265. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power as result of the failure of the oil pump assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2005 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- S.Timbalier 265 · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter France EC120B · all EC120Bs on the register
- Registration
- N588SC · registry record · serial 1130
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight approximately 14 miles south of Port Fourchon and while 500 feet above the water, the 2,117-hour pilot observed the engine low oil pressure light illuminate and shortly thereafter the helicopter lost total engine power. The pilot elected to turn into the wind, inflate the floats, and perform an autorotation to the water. After a successful autorotation, the pilot and passenger disembarked the helicopter without injury and were rescued. An examination of the engine on May 25, 2005 at Turbomeca USA revealed the total loss of engine power was a result of an interruption of engine lubrication due to excessive swelling of the oil pump assembly's check valve piston o-ring, part number 79-24-05-01-240.
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: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,117 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 2,071 as pilot in command; 1,695 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,780 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arrius 2F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S.Timbelier 265 GM
- Destination: 9F2 Fourchon GM
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.