Bell 212 accident near Tigvariak Isl., Alaska, January 6, 1983
On January 6, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Bell 212 (helicopter), registered N2150S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tigvariak Isl., Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tigvariak Isl., Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 212 · all 212s on the register
- Registration
- N2150S · registry record · serial 32137
- 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
THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD LANDING AT NIGHT AT AN UNLIGHTED DRILL RIG SITE. THE PILOT CALLED THE RIG SITE ON THE RADIO TO ASK FOR LIGHTS BUT THEY WERE NOT TURNED ON. THE PILOT TRIED TO LAND WITHOUT THE LIGHTS AND ENCOUNTERED BLOWING SNOW FROM THE ROTOR WASH. THE ALT WAS MISJUDGED AND THE ACFT HIT HARD AND MOVING FASTER THAN EXPECTED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF HE HAD WAITED FOR THE LIGHTS TO BE TURNED ON.
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,320 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 531 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 15
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT62-3B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SCC Deadhorse AK at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.