# NTSB ANC84FA017: Bell 212, N3910Y, Nuiqsut, AK, November 13, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 13, 1983, 00:40 local (04:40 UTC)
- Place: Nuiqsut, AK
- Coordinates: 71.279647, -156.779113 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=71.2796&lon=-156.7791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4187
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84FA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4187/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA017

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE SEARCH & RESCUE FLT HAD BEEN DISPATCHED FROM BARROW TO AN ACFT ACCIDENT SITE ADJACENT TO THE NUIQSUT ARPT. ACCORDINGTO THE PLT, UPON ARRIVING AT NUIQSUT AT 300 FT AGL THE VISIBILITY WAS 2-3 MI. THEY LINED UP WITH SNOW MACHINES FOR A VISUAL APCH TO THE SITE & THE CO-PLT DISENGAGED THE AUTOPILOT FOR DESCENT. THE PIC CALLED OUT 200, 100 & 50 FT. AT THE 50 FT CALL-OUT THE ACFT IMPACTED TERRAIN & BOTH PLTS PULLED UP ON THE COLLECTIVE. RIGHT AFTER THE PIC SAID 'WE'RE AT 50 FEET' THE ACFT AGAIN STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PIC WAS GIVING ALTITUDE READOUTS FROM THE RADAR ALTIMETER. THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED FIRST ON THE EDGE OF A 50 FT GULLY. THE ACFT HAD APPROACHED OVER THE GULLY. BASED ON OLIKTOK, DEADHORSE & UMIAT WX THE NUIQSUT ARPT WAS ENGULFED IN FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3910Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3910Y-1996-11-05), registration cancelled 1996-11-05, S/N 31195 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212
- Registry model: [Bell 212](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-212) (registry code 1181420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 31195
- Airframe hours: 538
- Engines: P&W PT6T-3-B 1290 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: North Slope Borough
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 20, 1983, 48 hours before
- Departed: BRW, BARROW, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 10AK, Nuiqsut

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,300 total, 303 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: -8 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SCC, 62 nm away

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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