Bell 206B accident near Chuit River, Alaska, August 9, 1994
On August 9, 1994 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N4604Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chuit River, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS DURING HOVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1994 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chuit River, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4604Y · no longer on the register · serial 556
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON A GRAVEL BAR IN A RIVER WHICH HAD HIGH BANKS. THE WIND WAS VARIABLE DURING THE APPROACH AND LANDING. HE 'PICKED' THE HELICOPTER BACK UP TO A HOVER TO REPOSITION ON THE GRAVEL BAR AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. HE APPLIED LEFT PEDAL, FELT A RESPONSE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE TURN. DURING THE TURN THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED AND STRUCK THE WATER. AFTER EVERYONE EXITED THE HELICOPTER, IT ROLLED OVER AND SANK IN THE RIVER. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE FAA, WHEN A HELICOPTER IS OPERATING AT OR NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT, TAIL ROTOR CONTROL MAY BECOME MARGINAL DEPENDING ON WIND CONDITIONS. HOVERING WITH A TAILWIND MAY CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND ALLOW THE HELICOPTER TO ROTATE ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FISH GUIDING.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.