# NTSB ANC84LA039: Fairchild Hiller FH-100, N5051F, Glennallen, AK, March 4, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 4, 1984, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Glennallen, AK
- Coordinates: 62.100875, -145.529388 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1009&lon=-145.5294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4271
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4271/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA039

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport/facilities - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - airport/facilities - rising (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
- Roll over, maneuvering

## Analysis

THE PLT EXPERIENCED A DOWNDRAFT, WHILE APPROACHING A GLACIER AT 5500 FT MSL. IN TURNING DOWNGRADE TO TRY TO AFFECT A DESCENT OF THE ACFT, CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE ACFT ROLLED INVERTED AFTER GROUND CONTACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5051F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5051F-1989-11-27), registration cancelled 1989-11-27, S/N 197 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD HILLER FH-100
- Registry model: [Fairchild Hiller FH-1100](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-hiller-fh-1100) (registry code 3376502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 197
- Airframe hours: 4598
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C18 274 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Gulkana Air Service
- Registered owner: Kenneth Bunch
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 31, 1983, 60 hours before
- Departed: GKN, GLENNALLEN, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,300 total, 200 in this make and model, 6,900 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 1 °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 19840304005469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840304005469A), Mar 4, 1984: Hiller FH1100, Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage. Caught in a downdraft in severe surface winds near rising terrain. Turned downslope lost control and crashed.

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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