# NTSB ANC94LA110: Bell B-206, N382EH, Gustavus, AK, August 31, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 1994, 21:30 local (Aug 31, 1994, 05:30 UTC) - Place: Gustavus, AK - Coordinates: 58.419414, -135.780609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.4194&lon=-135.7806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 10, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2542 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2542/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA110 ## Probable cause THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE/ALTITUDE FROM THE LANDING AREA, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT HE WOULD BE LANDING WITH SUFFICIENT LIGHT, AND THE DUSK/DARK LIGHT CONDITION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, hover ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON THE BEACH AT DUSK, AND IT WAS DARKER THAN HE HAD EXPECTED. THE AREA WAS COVERED BY A SHADOW FROM A MOUNTAIN. HE ABORTED HIS FIRST APPROACH AFTER REALIZING HIS RATE OF DESCENT AND APPROACH SPEED WERE TOO FAST. HE STATED THAT THE SECOND APPROACH APPEARED NORMAL, AND AT THE LAST MOMENT SAW THE RIPPLES ON THE WATER, TRIED TO PULL UP, BUT THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE WATER, NOSED OVER, AND FLOATED UPSIDE DOWN. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS EYES DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ADJUST TO THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS HE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE APPROACH. HE REPORTED A TOTAL NIGHT FLIGHT TIME OF 267 HRS, WITH 0.4 HRS WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 1994 at 2130 Alaska daylight time, a skid equipped, Bell 206 helicopter, N382EH, registered to and operated by Era Helicopters Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska, crashed into the water at Reid Inlet near Gustavus, Alaska. The positioning flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed the area 10 to 15 minutes earlier for a maintenance test flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. However, the accident occurred in the mountain shadows at sunset. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, the helicopter had been repaired and required a maintenance test flight. He also had to notify the "main base" that the helicopter was operational. To achieve radio contact he had to fly out toward the center of Glacier Bay. Once he completed the radio call he returned to Reid Inlet and found that it was darker than he expected. The pilot planned to execute an approach to the beach. During the first approach he could see the outline of the beach and lights from a nearby support vessel that he used as a reference. He stated that the descent appeared normal to approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl). At that point, he realized that his rate of descent and approach speed were too fast. He executed a go-around, made a left climbing turn and climbed to 300 feet agl. He prepared himself for another approach but from the opposite direction. The second approach appeared normal and the pilot stated that at the last moment he saw the ripples on the water, tried to pull up, but the helicopter impacted the water, nosed over, and floated upside down. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot indicated he had a total night flight time of 267 hours with .4 hours within the preceding 90 days. This operation was conducted at sunset. The open areas of the inlet were dusk but the pilot was executing an approach into an area that was covered by the shadow from the mountain. The pilot stated that his eyes did not have time to adjust to the difference in lighting conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N382EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N382EH-2012-09-21), registration cancelled 2012-09-21, S/N 1635, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL B-206 - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1635 - Airframe hours: 8910 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Era Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 5, 1994, 39 hours before - Departed: REID BEACH, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,904 total, 1,689 in this make and model, 6,700 as pilot in command, 261 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °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 19940830024089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940830024089A), Aug 30, 1994: Bell 206B, Gustavus, AK, Substantial damage. On test flight,getting dark. Tried land on beach,missed. Went around. Second try saw water too late. Landed in same 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.