# NTSB ANC97LA115: Bell 206-LIII, N94TA, Wasilla, AK, August 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 1997, 15:35 local (23:35 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3038 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3038/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA115 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent dynamic rollover during liftoff. Factors associated with the accident were soft terrain and a snagged landing gear skid. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, takeoff - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - landing gear,skid assembly - snagged (contributing factor) - dynamic rollover - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was receiving an evaluation flight from a U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Aircraft Services, helicopter specialist. The intent of the flight was to certify the pilot to fly future government contracted flights. The helicopter pilot performed several maneuvers during the evaluation, and then landed on the shore of a small lake to re-hook an external bucket to the bottom of the helicopter. The terrain was level, but was in an area of soft marshy type tundra. The helicopter was equipped with full length flat skis attached to the bottom of the landing gear skid tubes. These tundra skis help prevent the helicopter skid tubes from sinking into soft terrain. After the external bucket's cable was attached to the helicopter, the pilot began to lift the helicopter into a hover. During the liftoff, the left skid tube remained stuck to the ground. The helicopter then rolled onto its left side and received damage to the fuselage and rotor system. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 1997, about 1535 Alaska daylight time, a high skid equipped Bell 206-LIII helicopter, N94TA, crashed during takeoff from a remote lake, about 4 miles west of Wasilla, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area evaluation ride under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The helicopter, registered to and operated by Trans-Alaska Helicopters Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The evaluation pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Big Lake Airport, Big Lake, Alaska, about 1400. The operator reported the pilot was receiving an evaluation flight from a U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Aircraft Services, helicopter specialist. The intent of the flight was to certify the pilot to fly future government contracted flights. The helicopter pilot performed several maneuvers during the evaluation, and then landed on the shore of a small lake to re-hook an external bucket to the bottom of the helicopter. The terrain was level, but was in an area of soft, marshy type tundra. The helicopter was equipped with full length, flat skis attached to the bottom of the landing gear skid tubes. These tundra skis help prevent the helicopter skid tubes from sinking into soft terrain. After the external bucket's cable was attached to the helicopter, the pilot began to lift the helicopter into a hover. During the liftoff, the left skid tube remained stuck to the ground. The helicopter then rolled onto its left side and received damage to the fuselage and rotor system. ## Aircraft - Registration: N94TA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell 206-LIII - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51449 - Airframe hours: 1068 - Engines: Allison C30-P 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Trans-Alaska Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 31, 1997, 2 hours before - Departed: BGQ, BIG LAKE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,560 total, 335 in this make and model, 7,275 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19970801023299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970801023299A), Aug 1, 1997: Bell 206L3, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Evaluation flight for helicopter hoist. Tried lift after ataching bucket. Flat ski tube struck. 206 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.