# NTSB ANC96LA097: Bell 206B, N2761F, Juneau, AK, July 8, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 1996, 19:30 local (Jul 8, 1996, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Juneau, AK - Coordinates: 58.580204, -134.769485 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.5802&lon=-134.7695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2858 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2858/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA097 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper alignment while lifting the helicopter to a hover and inducing a dynamic roll to avoid striking a passenger. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, hover - evasive maneuver - intentional, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot landed in a area that was covered with tree stumps and cut logs. He maneuvered the helicopter so that when he landed the skids straddled a stump. The passenger disembarked the helicopter and positioned himself in the tree line in front of the helicopter. The pilot began to lift the helicopter vertically. He stated that he drifted to the right and the inside of the left skid struck the tree stump. The helicopter started to roll to the right. To avoid striking the passenger he applied full aft and right cyclic. The helicopter rolled onto its right side. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 1996, at 1930 Alaska daylight time, a skid equipped Bell 206B helicopter, N2761F, registered to and operated by Coastal Helicopters of Juneau, Alaska, struck a skid on a tree stump and rolled over during an attempted hover/takeoff from a field site near the Kennsington Mine area, Juneau. The positioning flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the field site for another field site located in the area. The helicopter was transporting surveyors and their equipment. A visual flight rules flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the helicopter received substantial damage. During a telephone interview with the pilot on July 8, 1996, he stated that when he landed the helicopter, he straddled a stump with the skids. The landing area was covered with stumps and cut logs. During the takeoff attempt, he raised the helicopter to a hover and it drifted to the right. The inside of the left skid struck a tree stump. The helicopter started to roll to the right. The pilot stated that his passenger was standing in the tree line directly in front of the helicopter. He did not want to strike his passenger so he pulled the cyclic back and further to the right. The helicopter rolled onto its right side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2761F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2761F-2018-02-12), registration cancelled 2018-02-12, S/N 2606, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206B - 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: 2606 - Airframe hours: 7840 - Engines: Allison 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Coastal Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 23, 1996, 15 hours before - Departed: AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,768 total, 130 in this make and model, 3,718 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 19960707025969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960707025969A), Jul 7, 1996: Bell 206B, Juneau, AK, Substantial damage. Landed stradling tree stumps. Tried reposition by rising to hover. Drifted skid hit stump. Helicopter 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.