- Date
- July 1, 1991, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Sheep Mountain, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N302MHBell 206BIII
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 24, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19910701025289A
- Case key
- 5569
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 pilot's lack of compensation for wind conditions and continued operation with the wind in the 'critical wind azimuth' area which led to limited tail rotor authority. Contributing to the accident was the variable and gusty wind conditions.
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.
Analysis
The pilot attempted to land on the 6,000 foot ridge and made a go around. He made a second attempt with the wind as a right quartering headwind. The pilot stated the wind was variable and gusty. During his second approach and approximately 8 to 10 feet above the landing area, he lost tail rotor authority and elected to land immediately upon the only available landing surface. The terrain sloped away at a considerable angle and he was afraid of rolling the helicopter. An operation safety notice issued by bell helicopter outlining the conditions for loss of tail rotor authority was available to the pilot in the company reading file. The reading file is required to be read and initialed by all company pilots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N302MH
- Reported as
- Bell 206BIII
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2958
- Airframe hours
- 6,142
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Maritime Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Maritime Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 29, 1991 · 4 hours before
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 9,097 total · 5,000 in this make and model · 8,809 as pilot in command · 162 in the last 90 days · 79 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.