SHEEP MOUNTAIN, AK, USA
N302MH
BELL 206BIII
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE 6,000 FOOT RIDGE AND MADE A GO AROUND. HE MADE A SECOND ATTEMPT WITH THE WIND AS A RIGHT QUARTERING HEADWIND. THE PILOT STATED THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AND GUSTY. DURING HIS SECOND APPROACH AND APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 FEET ABOVE THE LANDING AREA, HE LOST TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY AND ELECTED TO LAND IMMEDIATELY UPON THE ONLY AVAILABLE LANDING SURFACE. THE TERRAIN SLOPED AWAY AT A CONSIDERABLE ANGLE AND HE WAS AFRAID OF ROLLING THE HELICOPTER. AN OPERATION SAFETY NOTICE ISSUED BY BELL HELICOPTER OUTLINING THE CONDITIONS FOR LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY WAS AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT IN THE COMPANY READING FILE. THE READING FILE IS REQUIRED TO BE READ AND INITIALED BY ALL COMPANY PILOTS.
THE PILOT'S LACK OF COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND CONTINUED OPERATION WITH THE WIND IN THE 'CRITICAL WIND AZIMUTH' AREA WHICH LED TO LIMITED TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE VARIABLE AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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