# NTSB GAA19CA345: S M & T UH, N64771, Northway, AK, June 10, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2019, 11:46 local (19:46 UTC) - Place: Northway, AK - Coordinates: 63.075832, -141.038894 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0758&lon=-141.0389&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99642 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99642/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99642 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA345 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during landing, which resulted in impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [S M & T UH-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7700000), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [S M & T UH-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7700000), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) (defining event); cases with it: [S M & T UH-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md?model=7700000), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter pilot reported that he and the safety pilot were delivering fuel to a remote camp. During short final with the safety pilot on the controls and while the helicopter was about 50 ft above ground level, the descent rate increased. The safety pilot raised the collective, but the helicopter continued to descend, and the main rotor rpm began to decay. The helicopter then yawed right, rolled left, and impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The helicopter pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The helicopter pilot reported that, he and the safety pilot were delivering fuel to a remote camp. During short final, with the safety pilot on controls, about 50 feet above the ground, the helicopter's rate of decent increased. The safety pilot raised the collective, but the helicopter continued to descend, and the main rotor RPM began to decay. The helicopter then yawed to the right, rolled to the left, and impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The helicopter pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64771](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64771-2020-09-18), registration cancelled 2020-09-18, S/N 63-8704, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: S M & T Aircraft UH (1B) - Registry model: [S M & T UH-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-m-t-uh-1b) (registry code 7700000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming T-53 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (registry code 41552, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 63-8704 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 7414 - Engines: Lycoming T53-L-11D 1100 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Aurora Aviation Services, Inc - Registered owner: Evermore Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 4, 2019 - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: serious; remote, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 8 in this make and model - Check pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 110,314 total, 297 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Temperature: 61 °F - Observed at: PAOR, 27 nm away ## 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 20190610006589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190610006589A), Jun 10, 2019: S M & T Aircraft UH-1B, Northway, AK, Substantial damage. Crew was hauling an internal load of fuel at close to gross weight of the helicopter approximately 35 miles north east of Northway Alaska. [privacy data… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99642. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 293 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Safety Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Safety%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot in command (item 4, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480074&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot%20in%20command-Master.PDF 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.