The Bell 407 had just lifted off from an offshore energy production platform in the Gulf of Mexico when it suddenly rolled right, crashed into the helideck, and dropped into the water. The pilot and all three passengers were killed, and the helicopter was substantially damaged, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The NTSB said in its final report on the Dec. 29, 2022, accident that the probable cause was the pilot’s “failure to ensure the helicopter was clear of obstacles before takeoff from the helideck.” That failure led to “the helicopter’s right landing skid pivoting about a helideck perimeter light during takeoff and a dynamic rollover” — a lateral rolling that occurs on the ground when a helicopter pivots around a skid or landing gear wheel until it reaches a critical angle of attack and rolls onto its side.
The report also said that “the pilot’s improper takeoff technique likely contributed to the development of…
