Aerospatiale AS 355 F ECUREUIL accident near Venice, Louisiana, May 30, 1984
On May 30, 1984 at about 8:18 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS 355 F ECUREUIL (helicopter), registered N5777J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Venice, Louisiana. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1984 · about 8:18 pm local time
- Place
- Venice, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS 355 F ECUREUIL AS 355 F E · all AS 355 F ECUREUILs on the register
- Registration
- N5777J · no longer on the register · serial 5050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED TO SECURE A SEAT BELT FLAPPING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. THE AREA CHOSEN FOR LANDING WAS SOFT AND THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE INTO THE MUD. THE PLT INITIATED TAKEOFF AND WHEN THE ACFT FREED ITSELF FROM THE MUD IT STARTED SPINNING. THE PLT SAID HE LOWERED COLLECTIVE AND THE ACFT DESCENDED. UPON GROUND CONTACT IT ROLLED OVER. PLT RECOMMENDEDLANDING ON ONLY KNOWN GOOD SURFACE FOR PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
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: 3,586 hours in all; 164 in this make and model; 163 in the last 90 days; 3,149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,271 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 25, 1983; 113 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C20F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Venice LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:18 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.