Monday, December 19, 2022

Bell 206L-4 LongRanger, N414RL: Accident occurred December 15, 2022 in Patterson, Louisiana

National Transportation Safety Board - Accident Number CEN23LA064

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

During an attempt to depart an oil rig, one of the skids got caught under the perimeter railing, sending the helicopter into the water, Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana. 


Date: 15-DEC-22
Time: 14:30:00Z
Regis#: N414RL
Aircraft Make: BELL
Aircraft Model: 206
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: UNKNOWN
Flight Crew: 1 Unknown Injuries 
Pax:  2 Unknown Injuries 
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 135
Aircraft Operator: ROTORCRAFT LEASING CO LLC
City: GULF OF MEXICO
State: LOUISIANA





Three people aboard a helicopter that went down while trying to take off from a Gulf of Mexico oil platform escaped serious injury Thursday, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard in New Orleans said it received a call at 8:39 a.m. from Rotorcraft Leasing Co., which owns the helicopter, reporting the crash, which happened about 30 miles from Terrebonne Bay.

An initial Coast Guard report said the evacuees were in a life raft awaiting rescue.

A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from New Orleans rushed to the scene, and its crew hoisted the passengers from their life raft then took them to the Houma-Terrebonne Airport. Emergency medical personnel checked on them. One of the individuals was reported to have a back injury and, according to information gathered by The Courier and Daily Comet, at least one was transported to Terrebonne General Medical Center.

All of the individuals, including the downed helicopter's pilot, were in stable condition, the Coast Guard said.

"The coordination between our watch standers and the Air Station New Orleans helicopter crew was key to the quick response and rescue of the passengers," said Lt. j.g. Sadie Simons, a Sector New Orleans command duty officer. "After an incident this serious in nature, we are happy all three passengers are back home and safe for the holidays."

The Federal Aviation Administration logged an initial report Friday citing a preliminary cause. It says the Bell 206 L-4helicopter was trying to take off from an oil platform when one of its skids “got caught under the perimeter railing, sending the helicopter into the water.”

When the Coast Guard helicopter arrived, the pilot and two passengers were hoisted up to the aircraft from the raft, the FAA report says.

RLC is based in Broussard and one of its terminals is at the South Lafourche Leonard Miller Jr. Airport in Galliano. Attempts to reach company officials for details and also to determine whether the flight had originated in Galliano were unsuccessful.

RLC flies Bell and Sikorsky helicopters and its materials state that it is the largest helicopter company in the Gulf of Mexico region.

Bombardier Challenger 350, N200JB: Incident occurred December 17, 2022 at Bangor International Airport (KBGR), Penobscot County, Maine

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Maine

Aircraft aborted takeoff and slid into the runway distance marker, struck a taxiway sign and a runway light. 


Date: 17-DEC-22
Time: 07:08:00Z
Regis#: N200JB
Aircraft Make: BOMBARDIER
Aircraft Model: BD-100-1A10
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Flight Crew: 2 No Injuries
Pax: 5 No Injuries 
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: ON DEMAND
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 135
Aircraft Operator: FLIGHT WORKS
Flight Number: FWK40
City: BANGOR
State: MAINE

Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, N8046Y: Incident occurred December 17, 2022 at Capital City Airport (KCXY), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Aircraft veered off taxiway and struck a runway light. 

Cambridge Aviation LLC


Date: 17-DEC-22
Time: 18:18:00Z
Regis#: N8046Y
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA30
Event Type: INCIDENT
Flight Crew: 1 No Injuries
Pax: 0 
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
Operation: 91
City: HARRISBURG
State: PENNSYLVANIA

Airbus A321-200, N908AA: Incidents occurred December 18, 2022 and June 15, 2021

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

December 18, 2022:  Aircraft struck a bird on landing damaging wire harness on the landing gear at Philadelphia International Airport   (KPHL), Pennsylvania. 

American Airlines


Date: 19-DEC-22
Time: 04:34:00Z
Regis#: N908AA
Aircraft Make: AIRBUS
Aircraft Model: A321
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 121
Aircraft Operator: AMERICAN AIRLINES
Flight Number: AAL1892
City: PHILADELPHIA
State: PENNSYLVANIA

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; South Florida

June 15, 2021: Aircraft departed and returned to airport due to an odor and an inspection revealed the R2 panel and emergency exit slide separated at Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami-Dade County, Florida.

American Airlines


Date: 15-JUN-21
Time: 13:20:00Z
Regis#: N908AA
Aircraft Make: AIRBUS
Aircraft Model: A321
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 121
Aircraft Operator: AMERICAN AIRLINES
Flight Number: AAL2878
City: MIAMI
State: FLORIDA

Long EZ, N9TS: Incident occurred December 17, 2022 at Florence Regional Airport (KFLO), South Carolina

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbia, South Carolina

Aircraft landed nose gear up.  


Date: 17-DEC-22
Time: 15:16:00Z
Regis#: N9TS
Aircraft Make: RUTAN
Aircraft Model: LONG EZ
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Flight Crew: 1 No Injuries
Pax: 0
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: FLORENCE
State: SOUTH CAROLINA

Cub Crafters CC18-180 Top Cub, N513MM: Incident occurred December 16, 2022 at Renton Municipal Airport (KRNT), King County, Washington

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Seattle, Washington

Aircraft landed hard. 

Glacier Peak Aviation LLC


Date: 16-DEC-22
Time: 20:40:00Z
Regis#: N513MM
Aircraft Make: CUBCRAFTERS
Aircraft Model: CC18
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Flight Crew: 1 No Injuries
Pax: 0
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: RENTON
State: WASHINGTON

Robinson R44 Raven II, N999RL: Fatal accident occurred December 11, 2022 near Brannockstown, Co Kildare, Ireland

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; New York International Field Office

Rotorcraft crashed under unknown circumstances. 


Date: 11-DEC-22
Time: 14:50:00Z
Regis#: N999RL
Aircraft Make: ROBINSON
Aircraft Model: R44
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 1
Flight Crew: 1
Pax: 0
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: DESTROYED
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
City: BRANNOCKSTOWN
State: CO KILDARE
Country: IRELAND



Officials investigating a fatal helicopter crash in Co Kildare on December 11 will focus on what role the weather may have played in the incident.

The Robinson R44 Raven II which was registered in the US, crashed into a field on farmland in Kennycourt, about 6km southeast of Kilcullen, just before 3pm. Locals witnessed the aircraft circling the area before crashing hard into the ground.

The pilot, a man from Dublin, was killed instantly. There were no other occupants.

The victim’s body was removed from the scene by hearse on Monday as investigators combed the field for debris.

The privately owned aircraft came apart when it hit the ground, spreading wreckage over a wide area.

In an update on Monday afternoon, the Air Accident Investigation Unit said it had “completed its on-site activities” at the scene of the crash and that it will continue to examine the wreckage in its purpose-built facility.

“The wreckage is being transported under escort to the AAIU wreckage examination facility at Gormanston Co Meath for further assessment. The AAIU will consider all the circumstances surrounding the flight and a preliminary report will be published within one month of the crash.”

The Garda said the victim’s body has been removed to Naas Mortuary for formal identification. The Garda said it is to prepare a file for the coroner.

A large covering hid the scene of the crash from public view on Monday but images showed a badly bent tail rotor.

Sources said the freezing conditions in place on Sunday will be one of the focuses of the investigation. Kildare recorded freezing temperatures on Sunday and areas of the county were affected by fog. A freezing fog warning from Met Éireann was also in place for parts of the country.

The most common cause of helicopter crashes is pilot error but in rare circumstances freezing fog has been known to interfere with aircraft. Pilots sometimes also become disorientated in fog. The investigation will determine the airworthiness of the helicopter and what de-icing measures were taken before flight.

The four-seat, US made Robinson R44 is the best-selling helicopter in the world and is popular among police agencies, flying club members and business travelers. In 2015, New Zealand authorities grounded 80 of the country’s helicopters following a crash caused by a rotor blade which failed in fight. Two people were killed. Investigators later determined the rotor blade failed due to overloading.