Aerospatiale AS355F-1 accident near High Island Ao6, January 23, 1990
On January 23, 1990 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS355F-1 (helicopter), registered N5791N, was destroyed in an accident near High Island Ao6. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED DUE TO THE LACK OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1990 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- High Island Ao6
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS355F-1 · all AS355F-1s on the register
- Registration
- N5791N · no longer on the register · serial 5117
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY FROM AN OFFSHORE LOCATION TO A COMPANY ONSHORE BASE. THE WEATHER WAS IMC ALONG THE ENTIRE TEXAS COAST, WITH FOG REPORTED BOTH ON AND OFFSHORE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CHANGE DESTINATIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET ONSHORE. THE LAST COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PILOT INDICATED THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES OFFSHORE FROM ITS DESTINATION. THE PILOT AND THE HELICOPTER WERE NOT RECOVERED. SEVERAL PARTS FROM THE HELICOPTER WERE RECOVERED AND IDENTIFIED. THE HELICOPTER WAS EQUIPPED FOR BASIC VFR FLIGHT ONLY AND THE PILOT LACKED RECENT INSTRUMENT TIME.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,103 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 89 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 4,616 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,795 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 15, 1990; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,291 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE High Island 511 GM at 8:51 pm
- Destination: NONE Sabine Pass TX
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from NONE, 20 miles away
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.