# Accident 20120720015569A: Bell 206L-3, Circle, AK, July 20, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2012, 14:15 local time
- Place: Circle, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EOPA
- Location: 65.9461° N, 143.9728° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.9461&lon=-143.9728&mi=10
- Aircraft: N363AL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C30 SER
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,900 total, 3,800 in this make and model, 74 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC12CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA077) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120720015569A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT IN-COMMAND ELECTED TO LAND IN AN AREA NOT SUITABLE FOR TOUCHDOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO POSITION THE BACK OF THE SKIDS ON A LOG. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES THE HELICOPTER VIBRATION CAUSED AN UNCOMMANDED REPOSITION OF THE LANDING GEAR ON THE LOG CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO TIP BACKWARD UNTIL THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE SURFACE AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 ANC12CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA077), Jul 20, 2012: Bell 206L-3 (N363AL), Circle, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.

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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