# Accident 19970820023199A: Bell 206B, Dillingham, AK, August 20, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 20, 1997, 20:10 local time
- Place: Dillingham, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EHAA
- Location: 58.8205° N, 157.8597° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8205&lon=-157.8597&mi=10
- Aircraft: N18FH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18FH-2003-12-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 13,400 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 208 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97GA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97GA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970820023199A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(FROM .19) HELICOPTER CRASHED.  (FROM .4)  THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED A MOUNTAINTOP SITE, IN NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY, WITH CLOUDS, RAIN AND STRONG WINDS.  THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO HOVER DOWN THE MOUNTAIN UNTIL CLEAR OF THE CLOUDS.  THE PASSENGER SEATED BEHIND THE PILOT HAD HIS ARM OUT THE REAR WINDOW, HOLDING THE PILOT'S DOOR OPEN AS THE PILOT LEANED OUT TO SEE THE GROUND.  THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER DISCONNECTED HIS SHOULDER HARNESS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, SO HE COULD WIPE FOG OFF THE INSIDE OF THE PILOT'S WINDSHIELD.  THE PILOT DISCONNECTED HIS SHOULDER HARNESS SO HE COULD LEAN OUT TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SIGHT OF THE GROUND.  THE HELICOPTER DID NOT HAVE A FUNCTIONING HOT AIR WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER SYSTEM.  IT HAD A CABIN HEATER, WHICH WAS NOT USED.  THE HELICOPTER WAS AIRBORNE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES PRIOR TO IMPACTING A RIDGE.  NONE OF THE SURVIVORS SAW THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN UNTIL JUST BEFORE IMPACT.  THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, AND THE TWO REAR SEAT PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.  THE TAKEOFF SITE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SURVIVAL SHELTER, HEATER, STOVE AND SLEEPING BAGS.  THE PASSENGERS WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED BY THEIR EMPLOYER FOR LODGING IF  THEY STAYED IN THE SHELTER. THEY WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS IF THEY FLEW TO TOWN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97GA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97GA126), Aug 21, 1997: Bell BH-206B (N18FH), Dillingham, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's failure to activate the cabin heating system, the lack of an…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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