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ANC21LA083

2021-09-06 · Delta Junction, Alaska, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N125KW

Make / Model
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E
Year of manufacture
1989 · 32 years old at event
Engine
ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20B (420 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20090330
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0673B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s inability to maintain lateral control during the takeoff, which resulted in dynamic rollover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to utilize an unsuitable landing area for flight operations.

Factual narrative

The pilot was transporting personnel from a remote helipad that was constructed of a plastic, floating dock. She was unaware that the helicopter’s right skid had slid under a portion of the plastic dock. As she raised the collective to depart, she felt the helicopter roll to the right, and she attempted to correct the lateral rolling motion by lowering the collective. The helicopter continued to roll and came to rest on its right side. Subsequently, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system.   The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-(general)-Ability to respond/compensate

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_ANC21LA083.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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