Bell B206 II accident near Valdez, Alaska, April 28, 1992
On April 28, 1992 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Bell B206 II (helicopter), registered N371EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valdez, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE COMPANY PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES. FACTOR WAS THE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 1992 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Valdez, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell B206 II
- Registration
- N371EH · no longer on the register · serial 1310
- 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 PILOT LANDED SHORT OF HIS INTENDED DESTINATION DUE TO POOR WEATHER. AFTER SURVEYING THE AREA, HE DECIDED TO TAKEOFF AND ATTEMPT TO REACH HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE, HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE DUE TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN SOONER THAN HE EXPECTED. HE STATED HE DID NOT KNOW IF THE TERRAIN WAS LEVEL SO HE ELECTED TO HOVER TAXI BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL TAKEOFF POINT. DURING THE HOVER HE AGAIN LOST VISUAL REFERENCE AND THE HELICOPTER DRIFTED RIGHT, THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED A LITTLE HILL AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,084 hours in all; 4,732 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 6,350 as pilot in command; 2,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,641 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 2, 1992; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Era Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Field Site AK at 2:15 pm
- Destination: VDZ Valdez AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.