# NTSB ANC08LA040: Bell 206L, N404EH, Nikolai, AK, March 4, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2008, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Nikolai, AK - Coordinates: 62.299999, -153.316665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3000&lon=-153.3167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage, FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 67620 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67620/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and an inadvertent loss of tail rotor effectiveness while maneuvering. A factor contributing to the accident was wind gusts. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1181522), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=1181522), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=1181522), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181522), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 206L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181522), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was maneuvering the helicopter while his passenger filmed a dogsled race. The pilot reported that he was flying along slowly, and a gust of wind caused a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. He said the helicopter started to turn to the right, and he reduced collective pitch and followed the turn to regain control. During the maneuver he said he was losing altitude and approaching terrain. He said a second gust caused a further loss of tail rotor effectiveness, and as the helicopter rotated the tail rotor struck a tree, and the helicopter impacted the ground. He said there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident. The helicopter was not examined by the NTSB. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2008, about 1630 Alaska standard time, a Bell 206L helicopter, N404EH, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain, following a loss of control while maneuvering, about 59 miles southeast of Nikolai, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) aerial photography flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and sole passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 5, the pilot said he was maneuvering the helicopter while his passenger filmed a dogsled race, when the helicopter impacted terrain. He said there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. The helicopter received structural damage to the fuselage and rotor system during the collision with terrain. In a written statement dated March 13, the pilot reported that he was flying along slowly, and a gust of wind caused a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. He said the helicopter started to turn to the right, and he reduced collective pitch and followed the turn to regain control. During the maneuver he said he was losing altitude and approaching terrain. He said a second gust caused a further loss of tail rotor effectiveness, and as the helicopter rotated, the tail rotor struck a tree, and the helicopter impacted the ground. The helicopter was not examined by the NTSB. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N404EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N404EH-2017-02-22), registration cancelled 2017-02-22, S/N 45114, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L - Registry model: [Bell 206L](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l) (registry code 1181522) (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: 45114 - Airframe hours: 11589 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20R12 450 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: John Oney - Registered owner: Blue Sky LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006 - Departed: PAMC, McGrath, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 total, 3,700 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °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 20080304012159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080304012159A), Mar 4, 2008: Bell 206L, Nikolai, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The helicopter was conducting a filming operation through a canyon, operating in close proximity to the terrain. During the flight the aircraft… 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.