Problems Began Just After Takeoff

In its Preliminary Report (below) issued Tuesday concerning the fatal crash last week of a Bell 206 near Patterson, LA, the National Transportation Safety Board says there appears to have been problems with the flight since right after takeoff.

Although the helo (file photo of type, above) took off normally, one of the two surviving passengers told investigators the helicopter began to struggle to hold altitude soon after the pilot began flying south, heading to an offshore oil rig. The passenger told the NTSB the helicopter "dropped" several times. Each time, the pilot was able to regain a the altitude, but slowly -- like "he, (the pilot), didn't have the power to keep it up."

The helicopter, operated by Rotorcraft Technologies, impacted the ground after the pilot initiated a steep descending right turn, apparently in an attempt to reach a nearby field. The passenger says the pilot tried to bring the nose up to slow the descent moments before impact.

The pilot, Jose Parra, was killed in the accident, as was passenger Darrel Smith.

Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Tuesday, March 14, 2006 in Patterson, LA
Aircraft: Bell 206L-1, registration: N370RL
Injuries: 2 Fatal, 2 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On March 14, 2006, about 0740 central standard time, a single-engine Bell 206L-1 helicopter, N370RL, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Patterson, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured and the two remaining passengers sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC, of Broussard, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand passenger flight. The 75-nautical mile cross-country flight originated from the Harry P Williams Memorial Airport (PTN) near Patterson, Louisiana, at 0735 and was destined for offshore platform Ship Shoal 216, located in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to a passenger who had been seated in the left rear seat of the helicopter during the accident, the pilot performed a preflight engine check before takeoff. The passenger stated that the takeoff appeared normal and they departed south from the airport at an approximate altitude of 500-700 feet above ground level (agl).

The passenger reported that as they began their flight to the south, the helicopter "dropped" several times. Each time the helicopter regained the lost altitude; however, it appeared to do so slowly as if "he, (the pilot), didn't have the power to keep it up." While over a wooded area, the front seat passenger looked back and said, "brace yourself." The pilot then made a descending right turn, of approximately 90 degrees, towards a field. As they approached the ground, the pilot brought the nose of the helicopter up as if he was attempting to slow down. The helicopter then impacted the ground on the front left side and came to an abrupt stop.

The passenger then unbuckled his lap belt and exited the left aft door of the helicopter into vegetation that was 7-8 feet tall. Once out of the helicopter he observed a small fire by the baggage compartment. A brief time later the helicopter was fully engulfed in flames. The passenger further reported that before ground impact "everything sounded normal and he didn't smell anything unusual."

The wreckage was located in a cane field approximately three miles south of PTN. The Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates recorded at the accident site were 29 degrees 39.625 minutes North latitude and 091 degrees 19.473 minutes West longitude, at a field elevation of approximately -12 feet mean sea level (msl).

At 0755, the weather observation facility at PTN reported, wind from 020 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear of clouds, temperature 61 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 37 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.16 inches of Mercury.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov