Bell BH-212 incident near Galliano, Louisiana, December 3, 2003
On December 3, 2003 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Bell BH-212 (helicopter), registered N5017H, was involved in an incident near Galliano, Louisiana (South Lafourche airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 11 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of tail rotor control due to sheared, loose, and bent bolts which secured the tail rotor pitch control bellcrank support bracket.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2003 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Galliano, Louisiana · South Lafourche · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 11 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell BH-212
- Registration
- N5017H · no longer on the register · serial 30930
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport-rated pilot executed a precautionary landing following an uncommanded right yaw and in-flight control anomalies. The operator reported that approximately 35 minutes into flight, the aircraft suddenly yawed "violently" to the right with slight nose tuck. The tail rotor pedals were simultaneously driven to near full right position. The co-pilot immediately reduced collective and IAS, corrected with left pedal while canceling the Flight Director. The aircraft oscillated twice at medium intensity and relatively small magnitude. Control of the aircraft was then passed to the pilot-in-command who reestablished straight and level flight at reduced power, with full right pedal required. Cruise power at this time was approximately 60 percent. The crew reviewed the prescribed emergency procedures and notified company dispatch. In-flight troubleshooting revealed no remedial effect from securing one or both Helipilot SAS systems. Hydraulic systems not cycled, but pressure was noted as "normal" on both systems. Hydraulic boost to pedals appeared "normal." Slight left pedal input confirmed tail rotor control input. Controlled slow flight ability was confirmed down to 40 knots with resultant increasing right yaw. The 12,900-hour pilot executed a normal approach, touched down at 25 to 30 knots, and controlled the yaw with the collective and throttle. Examination of the aircraft by the operator revealed that the upper/left bolt that secures the tail rotor pitch control bellcrank support was bent and loose in the nutplate. The lower/left bolt had sheared just below the bolt head, and the lower/right bolt was sheared in the threaded area in the nutplate. Control movement was checked with no binding, lost motion or unusual noises. No additional anomalies were noted in the tail rotor control system.
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: 12,900 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 10,700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,781 hours in all; 342 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,332 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,799.1 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 2, 2003; 3.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,200 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PW PT6-3 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Evergreen Helicopters International, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Gom Ss358 GM at 1:50 pm
- Destination: OLS2 Fourchon LA
- Runway 36, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 9 |
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 N5017H 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.