# NTSB DEN90FA053: Bell 205A-1, Wrangell, AK, February 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1990, 15:13 local (19:13 UTC)
- Place: Wrangell, AK
- Coordinates: 56.409336, -131.610885 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.4093&lon=-131.6109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17817
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17817/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA053

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: COMPANY INDUCED PRESSURE TO MAKE THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITIES, AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - company-induced pressure, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,frozen

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER, C-GNMJ, CRASHED ON A FRZN RIVER AS MINERS WERE BEING TRANSPORTED FROM THE JOHNNY MOUNTAIN GOLD MINE (NEAR THE U.S./CANADIAN BORDER) TO WRANGELL, AK.  THE PLT COULD NOT RECALL THE ACCIDENT & THE SURVIVING PASSENGER (PAX) REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED.  ANOTHER HELICOPTER WAS EN ROUTE FROM WRANGELL TO THE MINE SITE AT THE SAME TIME.  THE PLT OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER MADE 2 ATTEMPTS TO PENETRATE THE BACK SIDE OF THE SNOW SQUALL & FAILED.  AFTER REVERSING COURSE TO RTRN TO WRANGELL, THAT PLT SIGHTED THE WRECKAGE OF C-GNMJ.  PASSENGERS WHO HAD FLOWN TO WRANGELL ABOARD C-GNMJ ON A PREVIOUS TRIP SAID THEY HAD ENCOUNTERED SNOW SQUALLS & WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. AT ONE POINT, ONE OF THE PAX BELIEVED THE HELICOPTER WAS IN A HOVER.  HE SAID IT THEN CAME OUT OF THE SQUALL IN A STEEP BANK.  A FORMER EMPLOYEE RPRTD THAT COMPANY OFFICIALS PRESSURED THE PLTS TO COMPLETE THEIR FLTS, IN SPITE OF MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGNMJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 205A-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 30264
- Airframe hours: 7160
- Engines: LYCOMING T5313B 1250 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Northern Mountain Helicopters
- Registered owner: Northern Mountain Helic. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 11, 1990, 91 hours before
- Departed: NONE, JOHNNY MOUNTAIN
- Destination: WRG, WRANGELL, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,500 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft

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.

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