# Accident 20080304012159A: Bell 206L, Nikolai, AK, March 4, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 4, 2008, 18:20 local time
- Place: Nikolai, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.3000° N, 153.3167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3000&lon=-153.3167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N404EH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N404EH-2017-02-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L (registry code 1181522, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20R
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC08LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA040) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080304012159A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE HELICOPTER WAS CONDUCTING A FILMING OPERATION THROUGH A CANYON, OPERATING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE TERRAIN. DURING THE FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. THE WIND CONDITIONS REDUCED THE CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TAIL ROTOR, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW RIGHT. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND MADE A CONTROL INPUT TO COUNTER THE RIGHT YAW AND ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE AIRSPEED. AS THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS BEING TAKEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING AND NEARING THE TERRAIN OF THE CANYON WALL. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME ORIENTED IN A DOWNWIND CONDITION, FURTHER COMPROMISING TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. AS THE AIRCRAFT YAWED RIGHT THE TAIL ROTOR CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A TREE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER.

## 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 ANC08LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA040), Mar 4, 2008: Bell 206L (N404EH), Nikolai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and an inadvertent loss of tail rotor effectiveness while maneuvering. A factor contributing to the accident was wind gusts.

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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