Sikorsky S-76C accident near Theodore, Alabama, September 24, 2012
On September 24, 2012 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-76C (helicopter), registered N781P, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Theodore, Alabama (Bayou La Batre airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2012 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Theodore, Alabama · Bayou La Batre · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-76C · all S-76Cs on the register
- Registration
- N781P · registry record · serial 760630
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during a hover-taxi maneuver, the tail rotor made contact with the main rotor blade of a parked helicopter that was tied down. The taxiing helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor blades. The pilot did not report and postaccident examination did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,195 hours in all; 776 in this make and model; 137 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 1,386 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,208 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 3,888 as pilot in command; 3,704 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 31, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,573 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 22, 2012; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,700 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Turbomeca 2S2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: 2S2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phi INC
The flight
- Departed from: 2AL4 Bayou La Batre AL at 9:45 pm
- Destination: HUM Houma AL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from BFM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA12CA580.