On February 7, 1986, a DE Havilland DHC-6 (registration N204EH) operated by Era Helicopters, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Mekoryuk, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing due to drifting off course in foggy conditions, resulting in a banked touchdown and departure from the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
The pilot lost control while attempting to realign with the runway during a fog-obscured landing, resulting in a departure from the left side of the pavement.
What happened
The pilot-in-command elected to land on Runway 23 instead of the intended Runway 05 because dense fog was obscuring the approach path for the latter. After aligning with Runway 23, the aircraft drifted off course during the final approach. The pilot attempted to realign the aircraft with the runway centerline but touched down while still in a banked attitude. Upon touchdown, the right wingtip struck the ground. The pilot was unable to regain control of the aircraft, which subsequently departed the runway on the left side.
The investigation
The source material does not provide specific details regarding mechanical examinations or post-accident inspections. The narrative is limited to the pilot's statement concerning the weather conditions and the sequence of events leading to the loss of control.
Findings
Contributing factors included the dense fog which obscured the approach path, leading to a last-minute change in runway selection. The aircraft drifted off course during the final alignment with Runway 23. The pilot's attempt to realign resulted in a banked touchdown that caused damage to the right wingtip and loss of directional control.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing due to drifting off course in foggy conditions, resulting in a banked touchdown and departure from the runway.