Bell 206BIII N302MH

Summary

On 1 July 1991 at about 21:30 local time, a Bell 206BIII registered N302MH, operated by Maritime Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Sheep Mountain, Alaska, United States. 3 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

1 July 1991 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sheep Mountain, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.0991, -145.5301

Aircraft

Bell 206BIII

Registration

N302MH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Maritime Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC91LA085

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S LACK OF COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND CONTINUED OPERATION WITH THE WIND IN THE 'CRITICAL WIND AZIMUTH' AREA WHICH LED TO LIMITED TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE VARIABLE AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE 6,000 FOOT RIDGE AND MADE A GO AROUND. HE MADE A SECOND ATTEMPT WITH THE WIND AS A RIGHT QUARTERING HEADWIND. THE PILOT STATED THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AND GUSTY. DURING HIS SECOND APPROACH AND APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 FEET ABOVE THE LANDING AREA, HE LOST TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY AND ELECTED TO LAND IMMEDIATELY UPON THE ONLY AVAILABLE LANDING SURFACE. THE TERRAIN SLOPED AWAY AT A CONSIDERABLE ANGLE AND HE WAS AFRAID OF ROLLING THE HELICOPTER. AN OPERATION SAFETY NOTICE ISSUED BY BELL HELICOPTER OUTLINING THE CONDITIONS FOR LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY WAS AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT IN THE COMPANY READING FILE. THE READING FILE IS REQUIRED TO BE READ AND INITIALED BY ALL COMPANY PILOTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.