# NTSB ANC92LA065: Bell B206 II, N371EH, Valdez, AK, April 28, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 28, 1992, 10:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Valdez, AK
- Coordinates: 61.149604, -146.809707 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1496&lon=-146.8097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5717
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5717/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA065

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE COMPANY PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES. FACTOR WAS THE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Roll over, hover
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT LANDED SHORT OF HIS INTENDED DESTINATION DUE TO POOR WEATHER.  AFTER SURVEYING THE AREA, HE DECIDED TO TAKEOFF AND ATTEMPT TO REACH HIS DESTINATION.  DURING THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE, HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE DUE TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF.  THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN SOONER THAN HE EXPECTED.  HE STATED HE DID NOT KNOW IF THE TERRAIN WAS LEVEL SO HE ELECTED TO HOVER TAXI BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL TAKEOFF POINT.  DURING THE HOVER HE AGAIN LOST VISUAL REFERENCE AND THE HELICOPTER DRIFTED RIGHT, THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED A LITTLE HILL AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N371EH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bell B206 II
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1310
- Airframe hours: 8641
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Era Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Era Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 2, 1992, 13 hours before
- Departed: FIELD SITE, AK
- Destination: VDZ, VALDEZ, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,084 total, 4,732 in this make and model, 6,350 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920428011909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920428011909A), Apr 28, 1992: Bell 206B, Valdez, AK, Substantial damage. Took off into whiteout conditions, tried to hover, turn back to takeoff point. Skid dragged in snow. Rolled over.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.