# NTSB ANC98LA003: Bell 206-B2, N86TA, Sutton, AK, October 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 1997, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Sutton, AK - Coordinates: 61.740463, -148.220672 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7405&lon=-148.2207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3102 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3102/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the tail rotor and the external long line cable, and the subsequent entanglement of the tail rotor with the long line. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - out of ground effect - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - rotor system,tail rotor - entangled (cause) ## Analysis The helicopter was being landed after completion of an external load lift. The long line suspended from the helicopter became entangled in a tree. The tail rotor subsequently became entangled in the long line. The pilot stated that the helicopter landed hard, and the tail boom, tail rotor, and tail gear box sustained damage. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 1997, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a Bell 206-B2, high skid equipped helicopter, N86TA, sustained substantial damage when its tail rotor became entangled in a long line suspended from the helicopter. The commercial certificated pilot, and two persons on the ground, were uninjured. The helicopter was operated by Trans Alaska Helicopters, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 133, conducting external loads one mile east of the Jonesville Mine, Sutton, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, with twenty knot winds gusting to twenty-five knots. A company VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot stated in his NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, that after completing an external load, the helicopter was being landed from a hover. The hook at the end of the fifty foot long line was on the ground, and the long line cable became entangled in a tree. The tail rotor subsequently became entangled in the long line. The helicopter landed hard on sloping terrain, and remained upright. The tail boom, tail rotor, and tail rotor gear box were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86TA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86TA-2019-08-15), registration cancelled 2019-08-15, S/N 1647, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206-B2 - 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: 1647 - Airframe hours: 6269 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 133 - Registered owner: Trans Alaska Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 3, 1997, 68 hours before - Departed: PAQ, PALMER, AK - Destination: JVM - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: JVM, Sutton-Jonesville Mine ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,605 total, 3,855 in this make and model, 8,605 as pilot in command, 255 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19971015031299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971015031299A), Oct 15, 1997: Bell 206B, Sutton, AK, Substantial damage. External load line became entangled in tail rotor during landing hover landed hard. Failed drop long line. (.4)the helicopter was being landed after completion… ## Other investigations on N86TA (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 ANC15CA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA012), Mar 10, 2015: Bell 206B (N86TA), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control while hovering at a low altitude, which resulted in an impact with frozen lake ice. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the… 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.