WORTH THE READ: BRENT BLUE GUEST EDITORIAL

Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This guest editorial is by Brent Blue, a Senior AME and RAF Supporter.

Well, it was a nice ride in a Coast Guard helicopter.

We set off from Idaho in my 185 with two other aircraft—a 177 Cardinal and a Sportsman. After a few stops in Canada, locations mostly driven by weather, we reentered the US at Ketchikan. The customs agent there decided it was his job to inspect all three aircraft’s paperwork on behalf of the FAA to make sure we were legal. Fortunately, there were no problems.

We headed north the next morning, and an experienced Alaska pilot said we had to stop at Katzehin, which was on a spit about seven miles southeast of Haines. He said it was “at least as smooth as Johnson Creek.”

We got there and circled about five times. There were no runway markings there, so we had to look at tire marks on the grass. We located the faint tire marks and came around to land to the northeast. We landed, and I kept the tire marks to my left for direction, but there was some tall grass on the right which we entered with all three wheels on the ground.

Suddenly, we hit something and the left landing gear was gone! We were going slow enough that the shoulder harnesses did not even engage. Everything switched off, and we exited the aircraft from the passenger side. I actually had to walk back to see what we had hit.

There was a sunken log in the high grass which was almost impossible to see. The right gear (8.5s) rolled over it, but the left did not. Bummer. Incredible frustration and demoralization.

With the Sportsman circling above, we announced we would not be flying out of Katzehin, and the Sportsman called ATC to notify them we would need evacuation. I actually had cell service on the ground, so we were lucky in that regard as well. The ELT did not go off, nor did we activate the InReach, which we had on board.

We had equipment to spend the night, but the Sportsman notified us the helicopter was two hours out. We took our personal packs out of the aircraft and secured everything else. There was a small fuel leak out of the left vent, which we plugged with some foam.

In the meantime, folks from Haines airport came over by boat because they had heard there were injuries. There were not, but they came running from shore regardless. It was nice to know everyone in the area was trying to help out.

When the Coast Guard helicopter arrived, we climbed in and were off to Juneau. On arrival in Juneau, we were met by an ambulance, which also heard there were injuries in spite of being told by the helicopter crew that there were not. It at least gave us a ride off the airport security zone.

Following this, a cadre of RAF pilots, backcountry pilots, and locals were incredibly helpful. I was able to catch a ride back to the site in a Supercub the next day, offered by Bryan, whom I was connected to by fly2ak.com. He was very gracious in taking me back and loading a large amount of our gear in the back and pod of his beautiful aircraft. Even on return, it was hard to see that log knowing where it was.

Bryan also connected us with Coastal Helicopters, who did the airlift of the 185 over to Haines. Then RAF Alaska Liaison Al Clayton in Haines was gracious in storing the rest of our gear in his hangar and allowing the aircraft to rest on his tarmac until it could be disassembled for transport to the lower 48. George, who works in Alaska during the summer, was going to transport an empty trailer to the lower 48 for the winter, so a perfect setup for getting the 185 down to Greenly for inspections and estimates for repairs.

All in all, things worked out as best as they could have for an accident in remote Alaska. Lesson learned: instead of using tire tracks to define the runway on approach, while circling, set up other physical features to align the intended landing surface. I am grateful for all the help from my fellow Alaska and Lower 48 pilots. I hope I can return all the courtesy in some way in the future.

Dr. Brent Blue is a Senior AME based at Driggs ID (KDIJ). He currently flies a C-182 and sees pilots for their medicals at his hangar on the field.

Submitted July 28, 2026

Posted in Guest Editorial, News