Bell B-206 N382EH
31 August 1994 · Gustavus, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 31 August 1994 at about 05:30 local time, a Bell B-206 registered N382EH was involved in an accident near Gustavus, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 05:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gustavus, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 58.4194, -135.7806
- Aircraft
- Bell B-206
- Registration
- N382EH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Reid Beach → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- ANC94LA110
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE/ALTITUDE FROM THE LANDING AREA, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT HE WOULD BE LANDING WITH SUFFICIENT LIGHT, AND THE DUSK/DARK LIGHT CONDITION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON THE BEACH AT DUSK, AND IT WAS DARKER THAN HE HAD EXPECTED. THE AREA WAS COVERED BY A SHADOW FROM A MOUNTAIN. HE ABORTED HIS FIRST APPROACH AFTER REALIZING HIS RATE OF DESCENT AND APPROACH SPEED WERE TOO FAST. HE STATED THAT THE SECOND APPROACH APPEARED NORMAL, AND AT THE LAST MOMENT SAW THE RIPPLES ON THE WATER, TRIED TO PULL UP, BUT THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE WATER, NOSED OVER, AND FLOATED UPSIDE DOWN. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS EYES DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ADJUST TO THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS HE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE APPROACH. HE REPORTED A TOTAL NIGHT FLIGHT TIME OF 267 HRS, WITH 0.4 HRS WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell B-206 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 1987 | Bell B-206-1 | Youngstown, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-18-150 | Gulkana, Alaska, United States | Maynard, Roger L. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-12 | Nondalton, Alaska, United States | Alaska Safari, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1994 | Cessna 140 | Willow, Alaska, United States | Moore, Charles D. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-18-150 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | 4W Air | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-18 | Kodiak, Alaska, United States | Hulbert, Ward A. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1994 | Cessna 182B | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | Charlton, Albert J. | No injuries | - |