Accident Overview
A helicopter operated by an airline transport certificated pilot was involved in an accident during a nighttime takeoff from a frozen lake in a remote area. The flight was part of a search for a missing person, carrying an Alaska State Trooper and a rescue volunteer with their equipment.
Flight Conditions
The flight was conducted under dark night conditions. The pilot was using night vision goggles (NVG) to discern topographical features on the snow-covered terrain. The outbound flight to a remote lodge was uneventful, and the pilot landed the helicopter on a frozen lake adjacent to the lodge.
Events at the Lodge
After landing, the search team conducted a one-hour search of the lodge and surrounding outbuildings but was unable to locate the missing person. During this time, snow fell, resulting in a light accumulation on the frozen lake where the helicopter was parked.
Takeoff and Accident
The search team boarded the helicopter for the return flight, and the pilot donned his NVGs. Just after takeoff, as the helicopter transitioned from a hover to forward flight, blowing snow from the main rotor momentarily reduced the pilot's visibility. He lost all visual reference with the surface of the frozen lake. While attempting to regain a visual reference, the helicopter's tail rotor guard and vertical stabilizer struck the surface of the lake. The pilot then elected to abort the takeoff. Subsequently, the helicopter's skids struck the ice surface, and the helicopter bounced several times before stopping.
Damage and Inspection
A postaccident inspection revealed substantial damage to the helicopter's vertical stabilizer, tail boom assembly, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. He also stated that he had not received any formal training in the use of NVGs.