WINTHROP, WA, USA
N49573
BELL 206B
DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT TO TRANSPORT SKIERS TO A MOUNTAIN, THE PILOT INITIATED A DESCENT FOR LANDING. WHEN APPROXIMATELY 30 FT AGL, DESCENT WAS TERMINATED DUE TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY FROM BLOWING SNOW. WHEN THE SNOW SETTLED, DESCENT WAS CONTINUED. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, VISIBILITY WAS AGAIN REDUCED AND THE PILOT LOST HIS REFERENCE POINT. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN LEFT SKID FIRST AND IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OVER.
WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. DARKNESS AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
