# NTSB ANC85FA065: Bell BH-206-B, N385EH, Valdez, AK, April 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1985, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Valdez, AK
- Coordinates: 61.150455, -146.809646 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1505&lon=-146.8096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4403
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85FA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4403/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA065

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, landing
  - engine assembly - failure,partial (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly - undetermined (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - cyclic - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - autorotation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT IN COMMAND STATED THAT HE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH AND AT 125 FEET AGL, HE HEARD THE LOW RPM AUDIO WARNING AND HE IMMEDIATELY ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE TO THE FULL DOWN POSITION AND CLOSING THE THROTTLE TO THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION. HE COMPLETED AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING AND HE STATED HIS TOUCHDOWN SPEED WAS TOO FAST, SO HE APPLIED AFT CYCLIC TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N385EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N385EH-1990-11-29), registration cancelled 1990-11-29, S/N 1674 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bell BH-206-B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1674
- Airframe hours: 4766
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Era Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 3, 1984, 60 hours before
- Departed: THOMPSON PASS, AK
- Destination: VDZ, VALDEZ, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: VDZ, Valdez, runway 12, 12 × 12 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 6,250 total, 1,306 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VDZ

## 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 19850419015859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850419015859A), Apr 19, 1985: Bell 206B, Valdez, AK, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on approach at 125 feet. Autorotated with main blades contacting tailboom. Low RPM warning.

## Other investigations on N385EH (1)

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.

- [NTSB ANC90LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA170), Sep 9, 1990: Bell 206B (N385EH), Kokhanok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE COMPRESSOR END OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR SCROLL TO TEE TUBE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPOOL DOWN. THE FORCED LANDING IN ENEVEN, UNPREPARED, AND LIGHTLY FORESTED TERRAIN WERE…

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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