Aerospatiale AS-350D accident near Gulf of Mexico, July 19, 1982
On July 19, 1982 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350D (helicopter), registered N5771L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulf of Mexico. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1982 · about 6:20 pm local time · cases in 1982
- Place
- Gulf of Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350D · all AS-350Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5771L · registry record · serial 1343
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN OVER WATER FLIGHT, THE ENGINE CHIP DETECTOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT MADE AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WITH NO FURTHER DAMAGE. ALL THREE ROTOR BLADES WERE FULL OF HOLES AND TEARS AND ONE BLADE HAD A PIECE OF THE ENGINE TAIL PIPE STUCK IN IT. THE FUSELAGE HAD SCHRAPNEL HOLES AND THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS DISABLED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PTO GEAR, PN 4-081-120-08, IN THE ENGINE HAD FAILED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,954 hours in all; 722 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 1,626 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,844 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,190 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopter, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: High Island Blk GM at 1:09 pm
- Destination: Cameron LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 50 ft
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N5771L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5771L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Aerospatiale AS350 65 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aerospatiale 178 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101 29 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Other NTSB records under N5771L 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW82DA285.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.