# NTSB ANC94LA042: Bell 206B, N49727, Wrangell, AK, March 26, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 26, 1994, 14:55 local (18:55 UTC) - Place: Wrangell, AK - Coordinates: 56.409652, -131.609649 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.4097&lon=-131.6096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2491/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA042 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT HE HAD THE PROPER CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO LANDING ON THE PLATFORM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH OBSTRUCTION (TREE STRUMP). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDING ON A MAN MADE WOOD PLATFORM AT A REMOTE LOGGING SITE. SHORTLY AFTER THE HELICOPTER'S SKIDS TOUCHED DOWN ON THE PLATFORM, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A STUMP UP SLOPE OF THE PLATFORM. ## Factual narrative On March 26, 1994, at approximately 1455 Alaska standard time, a Bell Helicopter Model 206B, N49727, registered to and operated by Coastal Helicopters, Inc., collided with terrain during a landing attempt on a wooden platform at a remote logging site on Etolin Island, approximately 18 miles south of Wrangell, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot-in-command received minor injuries. A logger who was in the process of boarding the helicopter at the time of the mishap was not injured. The helicopter was destroyed. The on-demand air taxi flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 135, last departed mile post No. 5 on Etolin Island and the intended destination was the accident site at mile post No. 3. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a Company VFR flight plan was in effect. The NTSB investigator-in-charge conducted a telephone interview with the pilot on the morning of March 28, 1994. The pilot reported that he felt the landing skids of the helicopter contact the platform. He said that the platform was constructed of logs, was triangular in shape, and estimated that it was from 1 to 2 feet above the ground. He recalled semi-resting the landing skids on the platform for a very short time, perhaps from 1 to 5 seconds, and believed that he still had some torque on the main rotor blade as he verified the platform's structural integrity. The next thing he recalled was being assisted from the wreckage. The pilot characterized the weather, at the time of the accident, as mostly clear with a few clouds in the sky, 3 to 5 miles visibility, and light and variable winds out of the southeast. A subsequent inspection of the accident site by company personnel revealed that the main rotor blades of the helicopter struck a stump up slope of the landing platform. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49727](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49727-1996-07-12), registration cancelled 1996-07-12, S/N 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1955 - Airframe hours: 7854 - Engines: Allison 250-C20B 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Coastal Helicopters, Inc. - Registered owner: Coastal Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 1994, 4 hours before - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,385 total, 109 in this make and model, 1,883 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F ## 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 19940326006619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940326006619A), Mar 26, 1994: Bell 206B, Wrangel, AK, Destroyed. Touched skids lightly on platform while loading passenger. Helicopter rolled over. Ground resonance indicated. ## Other investigations on N49727 (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 DEN88LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA180), Aug 11, 1988: Bell 206B (N49727), Sturgis, SD, 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. --- 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.