- Date
- January 12, 1989, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Bell Mountain, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5074RHughes 500-D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19890112000449A
- Case key
- 5159
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's misjudgment of his clearance above the terrain due to distorted visual perception. Contributing to the accident was the whiteout condition.
Analysis
The pilot encountered a complete whiteout condition during the approach and hover on a Mountain. The pilot stated that after touchdown the helicopter rolled over on its right side.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5074R
- Reported as
- Hughes 500-D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1151D
- Airframe hours
- 3,462
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Soloy, L.C., doing business as Soloy Helicopter, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Soloy Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 10, 1988 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- Wasilla, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,400 total · 1,400 in this make and model · 4,200 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 5 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.