Bell 412 incident near South Pass 65, August 19, 2004
On August 19, 2004 at about 12:05 pm local time, a Bell 412 (helicopter), registered N22347, suffered minor damage in an incident near South Pass 65. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure and separation of the tail rotor gearbox for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2004 · about 12:05 pm local time
- Place
- South Pass 65 · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 412 · all 412s on the register
- Registration
- N22347 · no longer on the register · serial 36005
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 11,750-hour co-pilot heard a "loud bang" followed by a loss of tail rotor control that produced a 30-degree yaw to the right and a 15-20 degree "nose tuck." Subsequently, the co-pilot reduced power and initiated an autorotation to the water, and prior to touchdown, successfully deployed the emergency floats. The reason for the failure and separation of the tail rotor gearbox could not be determined.
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
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,750 hours in all; 2,167 in this make and model; 158 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 9,849 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 19, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,459 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model; 186 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 9,994 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 15, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,437 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 18, 2004; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,900 lb
- Seats: 15
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-3B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-3B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1B7 Boothville LA at 11:35 am
- Destination: Vk989 GM
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
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.