Bell 206B N16757

Summary

On 30 July 2007 at about 15:40 local time, a Bell 206B registered N16757, operated by Arnold Johnson, was involved in an accident near Anchorage, 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.

Date

30 July 2007 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Merrill Field (PAMR)

Coordinates

61.2104, -149.8897

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N16757

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Arnold Johnson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wasilla → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC07CA070

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a light pole during final approach, which resulted in the helicopter striking the pole.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was positioning the helicopter from a private landing area to a local airport for fuel under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said approaching the taxiway, about 20-30 feet in the air, he spotted the light atop a 20-foot light pole through the left chin-bubble. He reported that he attempted to avoid the light, but the helicopter struck the light pole, damaging the chin-bubble and associated fuselage structure. He reported there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.