Sikorsky SK-76A accident near Ec 270, March 20, 2001
On March 20, 2001 at about 4:41 pm local time, a Sikorsky SK-76A (helicopter), registered N376AL, was involved in an accident near Ec 270. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the passenger's inadvertent encounter with the rotating main rotor blades.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2001 · about 4:41 pm local time
- Place
- Ec 270
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky SK-76A
- Registration
- N376AL · no longer on the register · serial 76002
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a normal landing to an offshore platform, the helicopter was parked with the engine and main rotor blades operating at idle. A passenger entered the base of the heliport unexpectedly and unescorted through a stairwell that was located near the nose of the helicopter. The passenger walked into the path of the main rotor blades, was struck by a main rotor blade and received fatal injuries.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,347 hours in all; 705 in this make and model; 179 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 15,179 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 24, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,211 hours in all; 1,918 in this make and model; 177 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 10,770 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,899.7 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 18, 2001; 3.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Allison C-30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Allison C-30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Ec 359 GM at 4:24 pm
- Destination: NONE Ec 270 GM
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 35 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.