Mbb BO-105S accident near Vermilion 250, August 10, 1999
On August 10, 1999 at about 7:07 pm local time, a Mbb BO-105S (helicopter), registered N2785R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vermilion 250. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the helicopter while attempting to takeoff. A factor was the high wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1999 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Vermilion 250
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO-105S
- Registration
- N2785R · registry record · serial S-642
- 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
The BO-105S helicopter began to spin on the helipad as the pilot was preparing for takeoff. The pilot stated that he 'advanced the throttles to 100%,' and then as he reached to adjust the volume of the radios, the helicopter began 'spinning to the left and sliding backwards.' The helicopter completed two 360-degree revolutions, during which it contacted and knocked a parked, unmanned Bell 206L-3 into the Gulf of Mexico. The BO-105S helicopter came to rest in the safety wire at the edge of the platform. The pilot stated that the winds were from the south, southwest at 30 knots, and the helicopter was initially facing west. Control continuity was established to all flight control systems.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,070 hours in all; 1,260 in this make and model; 206 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 7,623 as pilot in command; 336 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,669 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 3, 1999; 141 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,511 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C-250-20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Logistics, L.L.C.
The flight
- Destination: 39LA Cameron LA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.