Bell 204B accident near Copper Harbor, Alaska, May 2, 1993
On May 2, 1993 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Bell 204B (helicopter), registered N204AQ, was destroyed in an accident near Copper Harbor, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX, AND IMPROPER HELICOPTER OPERATIONS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE OPERATOR RESULTING IN REPETITIVE AT AND OVER MAXIMUM LOADS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: MATERIAL DEFECT OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX (INADEQUATE QUALITY CONTROL) BY THE COMPANY/OPERATOR, AND INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE OF BOTH THE COMPANY OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY BY THE FAA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1993 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Copper Harbor, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 204B · all 204Bs on the register
- Registration
- N204AQ · registry record · serial 2198
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AEROLOGGING OPERATION REQUIRED A STEEP DESCENT FLIGHT PATH FROM THE LOG PICKUP SITE AT 1200 FT ELEVATION TO THE LANDING SITE AT 70 FT ELEVATION. DESCENT ESTIMATED TO TAKE 11-12 SECS, AND DESCRIBED AS 'STRAIGHT DOWN IN AUTOROTATION AND DROPPING THE LOGS.' PILOT EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT 'BEING ABLE TO DO IT.' FOLLOWING A DESCENT, AND WHILE IN A HOVER, THE TAIL ROTOR & 90 DEG GEAR BOX SEPARATED. METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED FATIGUE SIGNATURES ON GEAR BOX CASE STUDS. GEAR BOX OF MILITARY ORIGIN. RECORDED WEIGHTS INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN OPERATING IN EXCESS OF THE GROSS WEIGHT HOOK LIMIT. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF SURVEILLANCE BY THE POI OR PMI FROM THE FAA OFFICE HOLDING THE OPERATOR'S CERTIFICATE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 8,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,420 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 25, 1993; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T-53 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.