# NTSB ANC85FA036: Bell 206BIII, N59619, Kenai, AK, January 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 10, 1985, 08:05 local (12:05 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.659107, -150.900817 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6591&lon=-150.9008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4393
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85FA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4393/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA036

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - weather condition - clouds
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - rain
  - light condition - dark night
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - radar altimeter - poor, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,airman, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
- Roll over, other
  - landing gear,float assembly - separation
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,rafts - loss,total

## Analysis

FLT WAS BEING CONDUCTED TO OFF SHORE OIL PLATFORM. PLT WAS CHECKED OUT FOR OFF SHORE OPERATIONS THE DAY PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT. PLT STATED VISIBILITY ABOVE 500 FT WAS POOR & HE MAINTAINED 500 FT TO STAY BELOW A STRATUS LAYER. ONCE OVER THE WATER THE ONLY VISIBLE HORIZON WAS THE PLATFORMS. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE WATER AND ROLLED OVER 1 1/2 MILES OFF SHORE. THE LIFE RAFT WAS SECURED TO THE CHIN BUBBLE AND WAS LOST WHEN THE BUBBLE SEPARATED DURING IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N59619 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206BIII
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1681
- Airframe hours: 5051
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Alaska Helicopters,Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 22, 1984, 74 hours before
- Departed: NIKISHKA, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 13,350 total, 85 in this make and model, 8,650 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ENA, 10 nm away

## 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 19850110000529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850110000529A), Jan 10, 1985: Bell 206B, Kenai, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Continued flight into IFR conditions over water and dark night. Inadvertently flew into the water.

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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