# Accident 20000501017969A: Bell 206B, Homer, AK, May 1, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 1, 2000, 12:30 local time
- Place: Homer, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: ENRA
- Location: 59.3991° N, 151.3199° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3991&lon=-151.3199&mi=10
- Aircraft: N301MH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N301MH-2003-03-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20R
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 16,622 total, 966 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC00LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA053) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000501017969A

## Narrative

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

(.4)DURING AN ON-DEMAND PASSENGER FLIGHT, THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS LANDING A HELICOPTER AT A LAKE GAUGING STATION. THE GAUGING STATION WAS SURROUNDED BY SNOW-COVERED TERRAIN.  HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE CONDUCTING SNOW PACK STUDIES AROUND THE LAKE.  FLAT LIGHT CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE LAKE, AND LIGHT DRIZZLE WAS FALLING.  THE PILOT WAS UTILIZING THE GAUGING STATION AS HIS LANDING REFERENCE POINT, BUT DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, HE FLEW PAST THE STATION AND HAD NO OTHER VISUAL REFERENCES.  THE SKIDS OF THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE SNOW, AND THE PILOT APPLIED UPWARD COLLECTIVE PITCH.  HE ATTEMPTED TO STABILIZE THE HELICOPTER IN A HOVER, BUT BEGAN DRIFTING FORWARD AND TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR SKID CONTACTED THE SNOW, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.  A PASSENGER DESCRIBED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE LANDING SITE AS THE 'INSIDE OF A PING PONG BALL.'  THE PILOT RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL WHITE-OUT TRAINING AS A WAY TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (-23) PILOT IN COMMAND WAS ATTEMPTING A LANDING TO A WATER GUAGING STATION ON NUKA GLACIER, NEAR BRADLY LAKE AND AT THE LAST MINUTE, JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, LOST HIS VISUAL REFERENCE FOR THE LANDING. HE TOUCHED DOWN GOING FORWARD AND LEFT AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD. NO INJURIES.

## 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 ANC00LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA053), May 1, 2000: Bell 206B (N301MH), Homer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudging the landing flare in whiteout/flat light conditions. Factors associated with the accident are the whiteout and flat lighting conditions.

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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