# NTSB ANC07CA070: Bell 206B, N16757, Anchorage, AK, July 30, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 30, 2007, 07:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.210418, -149.889694 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2104&lon=-149.8897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Anchorage, FSDO-03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07CA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66493/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA070

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a light pole during final approach, which resulted in the helicopter striking the pole.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - pole
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot was positioning the helicopter from a private landing area to a local airport for fuel under Title 14, CFR Part 91.  He said approaching the taxiway, about 20-30 feet in the air, he spotted the light atop a 20-foot light pole through the left chin-bubble.  He reported that he attempted to avoid the light, but the helicopter struck the light pole, damaging the chin-bubble and associated fuselage structure.  He reported there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was positioning the helicopter from a private landing area to a local airport for fuel under Title 14, CFR Part 91.  He said approaching the taxiway, about 20-30 feet in the air, he spotted the light atop a 20-foot light pole through the left chin-bubble.  He reported that he attempted to avoid the light, but the helicopter struck the light pole, damaging the chin-bubble and associated fuselage structure.  He reported there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N16757 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2145
- Airframe hours: 12273
- Engines: Allison 250 C 20B 250 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Arnold Johnson
- Registered owner: Arnold Johnson Jr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2007
- Departed: Wasilla, AK
- Destination: PAMR, Anchorage, AK
- Airport: PAMR, Merrill Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 23,965 total, 14,000 in this make and model, 125 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: PAMR

## 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 20070730014549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070730014549A), Jul 30, 2007: Bell 206B, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] departed wasilla for Merrill Field, Anchorage, AK, at approximately 0715 ast. The weather was reported as 1800 sct, 4000…

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.

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