# NTSB ANC90LA095: Bell B-47G2A, N8495E, Dutch Harbor, AK, June 24, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 23, 1990, 23:30 local (Jun 24, 1990, 07:30 UTC)
- Place: Dutch Harbor, AK
- Coordinates: 53.889083, -166.540924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=53.8891&lon=-166.5409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5387
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5387/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA095

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMANDS CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WHILE MANUEVERING TO AVOID TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - fog
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH RECOMMENDED AGAINST VFR FLIGHT. HE DEPARTED FOR HIS DESTINATION AND ACTIVATED HIS FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION WITH WHICH HE ACTIVATED HIS FLIGHT PLAN CLOSED PRIOR TO N8495E REACHING ITS DESTINATION, BUT THE FLIGHT INFORMATION WAS PASSED ON TO KING SALMON FLIGHT SERVICE STATION. THE AIR TRAFFIC SPECIALIST AT KING SALMON FAILED TO 'SUSPENSE' THE FLIGHT INFORMATION ON N8495E. THIS RESULTED IN THE LACK OF ANY OVERDUE AIRCRAFT REPORT OR SEARCH AND RESCUE. MEANWHILE, N8495E WAS OPERATING IN THE VICINITY OF THE DUTCH HARBOR AIRPORT WHILE IN HEAVY FOG. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND SAW A CLIFF APPEAR IN FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER AND HE VEERED AWAY AND ANOTHER CLIFF APPEAR AND AS HE VEERED AWAY AGAIN THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE WATER AND SANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8495E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8495E-1990-12-27), registration cancelled 1990-12-27, S/N 2680 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bell B-47G2A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a) (registry code 1181012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: L-2596-31
- Airframe hours: 3961
- Engines: LYCOMING O-435A1E 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: James Gilmore
- Registered owner: Alaska Antler Products Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 20, 1990, 11 hours before
- Departed: 26AK, COLD BAY, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 25 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DUT, 2 nm away

## Other investigations on N8495E (3)

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 ANC84IA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84IA035), Feb 15, 1984: Bell 47G-2A (N8495E), Anchorage, AK, incident, minor damage
- [NTSB ANC70AA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70AA090), Jun 20, 1970: Bell 47G-2A (N8495E), Pilot Point, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC68A0033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC68A0033), Dec 15, 1967: Bell 47G-2A (N8495E), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage

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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