# Accident 20240907012279A: Bell 206B, King Salmon, AK, September 7, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 7, 2024, 09:21 local time
- Place: King Salmon, AK
- Airport: King Salmon
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HRPA
- Location: 58.6591° N, 156.6466° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.6591&lon=-156.6466&mi=10
- Aircraft: N306FW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N306FW) (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
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 4
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,103 total, 2,331 in this make and model, 137 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC24FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240907012279A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2024, ABOUT 0924 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 206B HELICOPTER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR KING SALMON, ALASKA. A PASSENGER WAS FATALLY INJURED, THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 135 FLIGHT.

THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER, WAS TRANSPORTING FOUR PASSENGERS TO A SPORT FISHING CAMP LOCATED TO THE SOUTH OF THE KING SALMON AIRPORT (AKN).

WEATHER CONDITIONS AT AKN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE, IN PART: WIND 170° AT 5 KNOTS; VISIBILITY ¼ MILE WITH FOG; INDEFINITE CEILING OF 200 FEET.

THE ACCIDENT PILOT CONTACTED THE AKN CONTROL TOWER SPECIALIST ON DUTY TO REQUEST A SPECIAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (SVFR) CLEARANCE TO DEPART TO THE SOUTH. THE CONTROLLER ON DUTY ISSUED THE PILOT A SVFR CLEARANCE AND INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO REPORT CLEAR OF THE CLASS D AIRSPACE TO THE SOUTH. THE HELICOPTER THEN DEPARTED TO THE SOUTH.

SHORTLY AFTER THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED, THE CONTROL TOWER SPECIALIST RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM AN OBSERVER TO THE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT INDICATING THAT A HELICOPTER HAD JUST CRASHED INTO THE NAKNEK RIVER, NEAR GRASSY POINT. THE CONTROL TOWER SPECIALIST THEN ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE DEPARTING HELICOPTER, BUT NO FURTHER RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE RECEIVED.

## 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 ANC24FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA089), Sep 7, 2024: Bell 206B (N306FW), King Salmon, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to initiate the visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation, failure to maintain helicopter control and subsequent…

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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