# NTSB ANC99TA029: Bell 206L-1, N785SR, Barrow, AK, February 24, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: February 24, 1999, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Barrow, AK - Coordinates: 71.279281, -156.780044 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=71.2793&lon=-156.7800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99TA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45799/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99TA029 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged flare while landing. Factors associated with the accident were whiteout conditions, and the snow-covered terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Roll over, landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that the public use helicopter was being utilized to search for a missing person. He said that shortly after initiating the search, he was able to locate the missing person on a frozen lake. He indicated that as he approached the lake for landing, he became disoriented due to whiteout conditions. The helicopter struck the frozen lake, and rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and drive train components. The closest official weather observation station is Barrow, located about 4 nautical miles north of the accident site. On February 24, at 1753, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: wind, 070 degrees at 13 knots; visibility, 3 miles with light snow; clouds, 2,400 feet scattered, 3,800 feet broken, 10,000 feet overcast; temperature, minus 7 degrees F; dew point, minus 13 degrees F; altimeter, 29.81 inHg. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 1999, about 1730 Alaska standard time, a high skid equipped Bell 206L-1 helicopter, N785SR, sustained substantial damage during landing, about 4 miles south of Barrow, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a public use, visual flight rules (VFR) local area search and rescue flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The helicopter was registered to the North Slope Borough, and was operated by the North Slope Borough Search and Rescue of Barrow. The airline transport pilot and the two passengers aboard received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. In his written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that the helicopter was being utilized to search for a missing person. He said that shortly after initiating the search, he was able to locate the missing person on a frozen lake. He indicated that as he approached the lake for landing, he became disoriented due to whiteout conditions. The helicopter struck the frozen lake, and rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and drive train components. The closest official weather observation station is Barrow, located about 4 nautical miles north of the accident site. On February 24, at 1753, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: wind, 070 degrees at 13 knots; visibility, 3 miles with light snow; clouds, 2,400 feet scattered, 3,800 feet broken, 10,000 feet overcast; temperature, minus 7 degrees F; dew point, minus 13 degrees F; altimeter, 29.81 inHg. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N785SR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N785SR-2004-04-01), registration cancelled 2004-04-01, S/N 45526, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45526 - Airframe hours: 4396 - Engines: Allison 250-C30P 658 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: North Slope Borough - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 24, 1998, 50 hours before - Departed: BRW, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 17,000 total, 314 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 99 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 13 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: -8 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAB ## 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 19990224001729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990224001729A), Feb 24, 1999: Bell 206L1, Barrow, AK, Substantial damage. 1980 Bell Textron 206L-1 helicopter crashed on landing and sustained substantial damage. Other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on February 24, 1999, about… 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.