Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from a handrail on a crane davit on an oil platform during landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that she was making a normal approach to the oil platform. Both cranes were shut down on the oil platform, and she received a green deck for landing. The helicopter was over the landing circle when she turned the helicopter's tail and felt a severe shudder. She immediately landed and shut down the helicopter. The examination of the helicopter and landing platform revealed that the tail rotor blades had struck a handrail on the east crane davit, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox and drivetrain.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14LA103 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 5, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- West Delta 109
- Nearest airport
- West Delta 109 (None)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Bell 430
- N-number
- N430CT
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2002
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Business
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.