- Date
- June 26, 1996, 07:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N5125QHughes 369D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19960626035979A
- Case key
- 2921
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 failure to maintain control of the helicopter. The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing was a factor in the accident.
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 had landed in a remote area to transport three U.S. Forest Service employees into a national forest. The employees departed the helicopter and began walking away. While at full operating RPM, the helicopter rocked backwards and the tail rotor struck a rock. The helicopter received damage to the tail rotor blades, gearbox, tail boom and drive shaft.
Factual narrative
On June 26, 1996, about 0730 Alaska daylight time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N5125Q, received damage to the tail rotor and other components while preparing to depart a remote area about 30 miles northwest of Ketchikan, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country government flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The helicopter, registered to Temsco Helicopters Inc., Ketchikan, Alaska, and operated by the U.S. Forest Service, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Ketchikan International airport, about 0710.
A representative of Temsco Helicopters reported that the pilot had landed in the area of Magnetic Point, adjacent to Union Bay located on the Cleveland Peninsula in the Tongass National Forest. The flight was conducted under contract with the U.S. Forest Service. Three forest service employees departed the helicopter and began walking away. While at full operating RPM, the helicopter rocked backwards and the tail rotor struck a rock. The helicopter received damage to the tail rotor blades, gearbox, tail boom and drive shaft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5125Q
- Reported as
- Hughes 369D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1100D
- Airframe hours
- 5,498
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- U.S. Forest Service
- Registered owner
- Temsco Helicopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 16, 1996 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- KTN · AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 2,810 as pilot in command · 84 in the last 90 days · 43 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 125° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 57 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.