Bell 206L accident near Anchorage, AK
On October 18, 2001, a Bell 206L (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Anchorage, AK. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 18, 2001
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 61.169°N, 150.088°W
- NTSB ID
- 20011026X02150
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 18, 2001, at 1543 Alaska daylight time, a Bell 206L helicopter, N400EH, impacted the waters of Cook Inlet about six-tenths of a mile west of the shoreline off the approach end of runway 06 at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The pilot, who held a commercial pilot's certificate, expired as a result of the accident sequence. Two passengers were fatally injured and two other passengers received serious injuries. The aircraft, which was owned and operated by Era Aviation, Inc., was on a visual flight rules (VFR) 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand charter flight. The flight was on a company-VFR flight plan. On the morning of the accident, around 0915, the subject pilot flew five individuals from the south ramp of Anchorage International Airport to Fire Island in N400EH, and then returned without passengers to the Era Helicopters facility. Around 1300, he again flew N400EH to Fire Island, and landed in a cleared area adjacent to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) navigational radio facility near Big Lake. After shutting down the aircraft, he entered the facility building, and waited for the FAA technicians to complete their work. By about 1515, the technicians were finished with their tasks at the facility, and were ready to depart the island. FAA certified audiotapes that recorded radio communications audible at the Anchorage Air Traffic Control Tower (Local Control) show that at 1531, the pilot of N400EH requested a special VRF clearance back to Anchorage International Airport with a landing at the south airpark. The tow
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the surface of an open body of water while intentionally attempting to maintain a very low altitude while in cruise flight. Factors include falling snow, low ceilings, whiteout/greyout conditions, and flat/glassy water.
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Browse: Alaska · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
