Bell 212 accident near 38 SE Barrow, Alaska, July 11, 1982
On July 11, 1982 at about 2:20 am local time, a Bell 212 (helicopter), registered N59572, was substantially damaged in an accident near 38 SE Barrow, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1982 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- 38 SE Barrow, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 212 · all 212s on the register
- Registration
- N59572 · registry record · serial 30621
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EXECUTING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AFTER HEARING A SCREECHING SOUND THE PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL & THE HELICOPTER LANDED WHILE SPINNING. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE PRIMARY TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT QUILL COUPLING HAD FAILED. THE 204-040-604-5 FEMALE COUPLING HAD EXPERIENCED HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING OPERATION. CADIUM PLATING HAD BEGUN TO MELT ON EXTERIOR SURFACES. VISUAL OVERHEAT INDICATOR STRIPES REQUIRED BY THE COMPONENT REPAIR & OVERHAUL MANUAL WERE NOT PRESENT ON THE FEMALE COUPLING. THE 204-040-603-9 MALE COUPLING HAD EXTENSIVE HEAT & MECHANICAL DAMAGE.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC82FA056.