N3596N
AEROSPATIALE SA-330J
THE HELICOPTER, WITH 2 PLTS & 13 PASSENGERS, WAS ON AN IFR FLT TO A PSN IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. FROM THAT PSN, THEY PROCEEDED UNDER VFR TO AN OFF-SHORE OIL DRILLING RIG (EI-190). AS THE HELICOPTER WAS ARRIVING FROM THE SE, THERE WAS A STRONG WIND FROM THE NE. THE LANDING PLATFORM (HELIPAD) WAS LOCATED ON THE NW SIDE OF THE OIL RIG. THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE AN APCH TO THE HELIPAD BY FLYING PARALLEL TO THE UPWIND (NE) SIDE OF THE OIL RIG, RATHER THAN GOING AROUND THE DOWNWIND SIDE & APCHG THE HELIPAD BY FLYING INTO THE WIND. AFTER PROCEEDING TO AN AREA OVER THE VCNTY OF THE HELIPAD, THE PLT TURNED THE HELICOPTER TO THE RGT & ALIGNED IT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN OBSERVED TO DRIFT REARWARD & TO THE RGT UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE NW LEG OF THE OIL RIG. IT THEN CRASHED ON THE OIL RIG & WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT & FIRE. AN NTSB STUDY SHOWED THE WIND WAS FROM 040 DEG AT 35 KTS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
