Bell 206L-1 N80KA

Summary

On 18 January 2001 at about 14:32 local time, a Bell 206L-1 registered N80KA, operated by Kenai Air Alaska, Inc., was involved in an accident near Tyonek, Alaska, United States. 4 people were 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.

Date

18 January 2001 at 14:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Tyonek, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.0828, -150.9520

Aircraft

Bell 206L-1

Registration

N80KA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Kenai Air Alaska, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kenai → Tyonek

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC01LA030

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate tail rotor clearance while maneuvering to land.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport certificated helicopter pilot was transporting oil field personnel to an offshore oil producing platform. The pilot said that wind conditions, in conjunction with various platform mounted obstructions, required that he plan his approach to the left side of the helipad, then "side slip" to the right and over the helipad. He said that as he terminated his approach, and moved the helicopter to the right and over the helipad, the tail rotor struck a handrail that was adjacent to the helipad. The helicopter sustained substantial in-flight damage to the tail rotor blades, main rotor blades, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from the northeast at 25 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.