Pilot Debrief

BELL 206L-3 near Circle, AK — 2012-07-20

Final reportANC12CA077
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Date
2012-07-20
Location
Circle, AK, USA
Aircraft
BELL 206L-3
Registration
N363AL
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot elected to land the high skid, turbine-powered helicopter in a burned-out wooded area as part of a vegetation reclamation survey. The area he selected contained several rain-soaked, burned, and fallen birch trees and required that he land on the fallen trees with the helicopter's skids perpendicular to the trees. The operator reported that, after landing atop the uneven, fallen trees, the pilot retarded the engine throttle to flight idle to begin the mandatory 2 minute engine cool down procedure. The helicopter subsequently tipped backwards and slid to the left, and the tail rotor struck a log. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, tail rotor drive system, and tail rotor gearbox. The pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the helicopter.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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