# NTSB ANC01LA030: Bell 206L-1, N80KA, Tyonek, AK, January 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 2001, 10:32 local (14:32 UTC) - Place: Tyonek, AK - Coordinates: 61.082778, -150.95195 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0828&lon=-150.9520&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 51382 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51382/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA030 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate tail rotor clearance while maneuvering to land. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airline transport certificated helicopter pilot was transporting oil field personnel to an offshore oil producing platform. The pilot said that wind conditions, in conjunction with various platform mounted obstructions, required that he plan his approach to the left side of the helipad, then "side slip" to the right and over the helipad. He said that as he terminated his approach, and moved the helicopter to the right and over the helipad, the tail rotor struck a handrail that was adjacent to the helipad. The helicopter sustained substantial in-flight damage to the tail rotor blades, main rotor blades, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from the northeast at 25 knots. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2001, about 1032 Alaska standard time, a pop-out float equipped Bell 206L-1 helicopter, N80KA, sustained substantial damage during landing on the Phillips Tyonek Platform, about 6 miles east of Tyonek, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The helicopter was operated by Kenai Air Alaska, Inc., Kenai, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the three passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Kenai Airport, about 0954. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on January 18, the pilot reported the helicopter was landing on the elevated helipad of the offshore oil producing platform. He said that wind conditions, in conjunction with various platform mounted obstructions, required that he plan his approach to the left side of the helipad, then "side slip" to the right and over the helipad. He said that as he terminated his approach, and moved the helicopter to the right and over the helipad, the tail rotor struck a handrail that was adjacent to the helipad. The helicopter sustained substantial in-flight damage to the tail rotor blades, main rotor blades, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from the northeast at 25 knots. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80KA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80KA-2003-04-22), registration cancelled 2003-04-22, S/N 45688, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45688 - Airframe hours: 7307.7 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C28B 500 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Kenai Air Alaska, Inc. - Registered owner: Craig & Kimi Lofstedt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 10, 2001, 18.1 hours before - Departed: ENA, Kenai, AK - Destination: Tyonek, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 14, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 4,564 total, 163 in this make and model, 2,986 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 25 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010118040009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010118040009A), Jan 18, 2001: Bell 206L1, Tyonek, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On 01/18/2001 at approximately 10:30 local, PIC initiated an approach to a point in space abeam the phillips platform in cook inlet with a Bell 206-L1,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.