Bell 204B N204AQ
2 May 1993 · Copper Harbor, Alaska, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 2 May 1993 at about 20:50 local time, a Bell 204B registered N204AQ, operated by Chester C. Rasberry, was involved in an accident near Copper Harbor, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Copper Harbor, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 55.6104, -131.5794
- Aircraft
- Bell 204B
- Registration
- N204AQ
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Chester C. Rasberry
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC93FA056
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX, AND IMPROPER HELICOPTER OPERATIONS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE OPERATOR RESULTING IN REPETITIVE AT AND OVER MAXIMUM LOADS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: MATERIAL DEFECT OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX (INADEQUATE QUALITY CONTROL) BY THE COMPANY/OPERATOR, AND INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE OF BOTH THE COMPANY OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY BY THE FAA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AEROLOGGING OPERATION REQUIRED A STEEP DESCENT FLIGHT PATH FROM THE LOG PICKUP SITE AT 1200 FT ELEVATION TO THE LANDING SITE AT 70 FT ELEVATION. DESCENT ESTIMATED TO TAKE 11-12 SECS, AND DESCRIBED AS 'STRAIGHT DOWN IN AUTOROTATION AND DROPPING THE LOGS.' PILOT EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT 'BEING ABLE TO DO IT.' FOLLOWING A DESCENT, AND WHILE IN A HOVER, THE TAIL ROTOR & 90 DEG GEAR BOX SEPARATED. METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED FATIGUE SIGNATURES ON GEAR BOX CASE STUDS. GEAR BOX OF MILITARY ORIGIN. RECORDED WEIGHTS INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN OPERATING IN EXCESS OF THE GROSS WEIGHT HOOK LIMIT. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF SURVEILLANCE BY THE POI OR PMI FROM THE FAA OFFICE HOLDING THE OPERATOR'S CERTIFICATE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 204 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1993 | Bell 204-B | Cedar Crest, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 May 1994 | Bell 204B | Libby, Montana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1992 | Bell 204B | Big Sur, California, United States | U.s. Forest Service | Unknown | - |
| 10 Jun 1994 | Bell 204B | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1990 | Bell 204B | Keller, Washington, United States | Cazn-Arc Helicopters, Ltd | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Apr 1997 | Bell 204-B | Calderwood, Tennessee, United States | U.s. Forest Svc./State of TN. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 1993 | Cessna A185F | Denali Nat'l Pk, Alaska, United States | James Okonek | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1993 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Atigun Pass, Alaska, United States | Yutana Airlines | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Aug 1993 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Nikabuna Lake, Alaska, United States | Ketchum Air Service Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1993 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Iliamna, Alaska, United States | Rainbow King, Inc | Fatal | 3 |
| 2 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-18A-150 | Sanona Creek, Alaska, United States | Garfield, Wade E. | Fatal | 2 |
| 8 Sep 1993 | Interstate S-1B2 ARCTIC TERN | Talkeetna River, Alaska, United States | Franklin, Gary L. | Serious injuries | - |