# Accident 20150310003009A: Bell 206B, Palmer, AK, March 10, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 10, 2015, 15:00 local time
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4100° N, 148.5470° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4100&lon=-148.5470&mi=10
- Aircraft: N86TA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86TA-2019-08-15) (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: ALLISON 250 SER 400HP
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 14,190 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC15CA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA012) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150310003009A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS IN A HOVER OVER THE KNIK GLACIER. PILOT WAS FLYING BY HIMSELF FROM LEFT SEAT.  PILOT LOST TRACK OF ROTOR RPM WHILE CONCENTRATING ON CORRECTING N2, AND THE HELICOPTER SETTLED HARD ON TO THE GLACIER. PILOT BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER BACK IN TO HOVER,  DECIDED TO RETURN LOW LEVEL TO PALMER AIRPORT. AFTER CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 50 FEET, ENGINE QUIT AND PILOT IMMEDIATELY ENTERED AUTOROTATION. THIS RESULTED IN SECOND HARD LANDING, ABOUT 500 FEET FROM FIRST HARD LANDING, BUT THIS TIME ON DIRT INSTEAD OF GLACIER. PILOT EXITED HELICOPTER FROM LEFT EXIT, WITHOUT INJURY.

## 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 ANC15CA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA012), Mar 10, 2015: Bell 206B (N86TA), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control while hovering at a low altitude, which resulted in an impact with frozen lake ice. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the…

## Other reports on N86TA (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19971015031299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971015031299A), Oct 15, 1997: Bell 206B (N86TA), Sutton, AK, Substantial damage. External load line became entangled in tail rotor during landing hover landed hard. Failed drop long line. (.4)the helicopter was being landed after completion…
- [Incident 19810727061219I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810727061219I), Jul 27, 1981: Bell 206B (N86TA), Copper Center, AK, Minor damage. Landed off airport due to short shaft in drive coupling failed.

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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