Accident Overview
On 20 December 2003, at approximately 0100 UTC, a Bell 407 helicopter, registration N44EA, was destroyed when it struck the surface north of Patriot Hills, Antarctica. The helicopter was engaged in a private flight attempting a pole-to-pole circumnavigation. Both crew members—the commander (age 52, with 8,500 total flight hours, including 185 on type) and a non-handling pilot—sustained serious injuries. The commander suffered back injuries consistent with high vertical velocity at impact, and the non-handling pilot suffered a dislocated elbow. The helicopter, equipped with one Rolls-Royce 250-C47B turboshaft engine, was destroyed, with severe damage to the tail boom, rotor blades, and fuselage.
Flight Background
The expedition had departed New York in October 2003 and reached the South Pole on 17 December 2003. On the day of the accident, the helicopter began its northward journey from Patriot Hills (approximately 600 nautical miles north of the South Pole) intending to fly to Fossil Bluff via a fuel cache about 340 miles north of Patriot Hills.
Weather and White-Out
The crew received a meteorological briefing at Patriot Hills, including satellite imagery, and took advice from a professional pilot experienced in Antarctic flying. The weather appeared suitable, and the helicopter departed under clear skies. The flight proceeded uneventfully at 1,000 feet above ground level until about 100 miles south of the fuel cache, where cloud cover increased. Although the cloud base remained high and visibility was good, the helicopter unexpectedly entered white-out conditions, and the crew lost all visual references. They attempted to exit by reversing course but were unsuccessful. The commander decided to attempt a landing.
Emergency Procedures and Rescue
With the non-handling pilot calling out radio altitude, the commander began a descent and reduced speed. As the helicopter passed through about 200 feet above ground level, the crew still could not see the surface. The commander slowed the helicopter from 60 knots. At a speed of about 45 knots, just as the non-handling pilot called a radio altitude of 140 feet, the helicopter struck the surface abruptly. The engine stopped immediately, and the helicopter came to a halt upright. The crew vacated the helicopter and took shelter from the -30°C ambient temperature. They activated their emergency locator beacon and a satellite telephone as part of their search and rescue contingency plan. Approximately four hours after the accident, a Twin Otter aircraft landed at the crash site and rescued the crew.
In his report, the commander noted the prevalence of white-out conditions in Antarctica and stated that the accident might have been avoided had he decided to land sooner. He also reported that pilots experienced in Antarctic flying were aware of a tendency for radio altimeters to misread over a dry snow surface.