Bell 212 accident near Mcmurdo Station, Ay, January 17, 2003
On January 17, 2003 at about 2:52 am local time, a Bell 212 (helicopter), registered N1079U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mcmurdo Station. It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued operation of the helicopter with an unstable external load, which resulted in damage to the cargo hook assembly, adjacent throttle controls, and subsequent loss of engine power, precipitating an emergency descent and impact with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were the load oscillations, and the separation of the fuel crossover lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2003 · about 2:52 am local time
- Place
- Mcmurdo Station, AY · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 212 · all 212s on the register
- Registration
- N1079U · registry record · serial 31122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The public use helicopter was lifting a 20' by 14' by 6" thick platform, weighing about 1250 pounds, on a 100 foot long line. The airline transport pilot had successfully lifted and transported three similar platforms with the accident helicopter just before the accident flight, although he had difficulty controlling the load on two flights, and landed to check the helicopter for damage after the third flight. On the accident flight, the pilot reported a severe jolt to the airframe while the helicopter was approximately 200' AGL, and the load was approximately 100' AGL, followed by an immediate loss of engine power. Ground witnesses noted that the platform swung from right to left, fore and aft, and rose vertically several times. The platform rose one final time, and "slammed down" on the long line, breaking the platform in half. Witnesses said they then saw white vapor coming from the helicopter, the load was jettisoned, and the helicopter descended very rapidly, impacting on a frozen lake. Postaccident examination of the engines disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies. An inspection of the external cargo hook and its support structure in the belly of the helicopter, revealed a sheared bolt at the top of the hook support assembly, which allowed the assembly to move and change shape. Witness marks indicate that the hook assembly overrode its container ring, and struck the fuel crossover lines, throttle control bell cranks for both engines, and the throttle position push/pull tubes. Both fuel crossover lines were pulled from their respective fuel tanks, and the throttle position bell cranks were found in the engine idle cutoff position, with the crossover lines crushed against them.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,059 hours in all; 925 in this make and model; 5,283 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 20, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,945 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 2, 2003; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,900 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: National Science Foundation
The flight
- Departed from: Mcmurdo Station at 5:00 am
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.