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Location:
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Christmas Valley, Oregon
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Accident Number:
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WPR22LA182
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Date & Time:
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May 18, 2022, 17:33 Local
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Registration:
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N851AL
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Aircraft:
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Airbus Helicopters AS 350B3
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Loss of control in flight
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Injuries:
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4 Serious
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Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled - Air Medical (Unspecified)
Analysis
According to the accident pilot, after transferring a patient from Klamath Falls, Oregon to Bend, Oregon, he received a request from his dispatch to collect a patient in Christmas Valley, Oregon. He reviewed weather information from stations surrounding the destination as there was no local weather reporting facility at the destination. The pilot recalled that the expected winds were from the northwest at 15-20 kts sustained, and gusting to 30 kts, but were acceptable for the flight. After a preflight inspection he departed on the accident flight with three flight crewmembers. They did not experience any significant weather while enroute to their destination and the helicopter was operating within its normal limitations. The pilot approached the airport by entering the airport traffic pattern from the north for a landing to the west as the winds were from the west/northwest. He recalled that the windspeeds at the time of arrival were approximately 15-20 kts and gusting between 25-30 kts.
After he became established on final approach he sidestepped and approached a parallel taxiway. He slowly taxied while looking for the air ambulance they were scheduled to meet. The pilot reported that he was monitoring the windsock during this time, but observed the helicopter handling well with no indication of winds that would exceed the helicopter’s limitations at the time. Once he identified the landing site he lined the helicopter with the landing pad and began a descent while noting several structures nearby that were providing protection from the wind. At this point he performed a right pedal turn from about 3 ft above ground level to position the left door towards the ambulance for the pickup, consistent with the operator’s protocol. The pedal turn went smoothly; however, as the helicopter touched down it was forced forward rapidly. The pilot reacted by increasing collective and applying aft cyclic to climb the helicopter and avoid surrounding hazards. He lowered collective when the helicopter was about 30 ft above ground level and held aft cyclic, but the helicopter began to spin to the left and he was unable to control the helicopter. The pilot then reduced power to IDLE using the throttle twist grip and could not recount anything further.
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. He opined that he encountered a hard wind from the rear.
A witness estimated that the wind was about 50 mph (43 kts) at the time of the accident.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s inability to maintain control in high wind conditions while repositioning during a landing attempt, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
Findings
Aircraft - (general) - Attain/maintain not possible
Personnel issues - Aircraft control - Pilot
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial
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Age:
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40,Male
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|
Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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4-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Airplane; Helicopter
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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August 23, 2021
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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April 28, 2022
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Flight Time:
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2083 hours (Total, all aircraft), 15 hours (Total, this make and model), 1806 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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Airbus Helicopters
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Registration:
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N851AL
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Model/Series:
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AS 350B3
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2019
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Amateur Built:
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|
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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8647
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Landing Gear Type:
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None; High skid
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Seats:
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4
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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May 17, 2022 AAIP
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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5225 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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411 Hrs
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Engines:
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1 Turbo shaft
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|
Airframe Total Time:
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1074 Hrs as of last inspection
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Safran
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ELT:
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C126 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
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Engine Model/Series:
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Arriel 2D
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Registered Owner:
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Rated Power:
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728 Horsepower
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Operator:
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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On-demand air taxi (135)
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Operator Does Business As:
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Airlink critical care transport
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Operator Designator Code:
|
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KBDN,3462 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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57 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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17:29 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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336°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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|
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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18 knots / 25 knots
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
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None / None
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Wind Direction:
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220°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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N/A / N/A
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.11 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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17°C / -1°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Bend, OR (54OR)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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Company VFR
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Destination:
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Christmas Valley, OR
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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16:53 Local
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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Christmas Valley
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Airport
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62S
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Runway Surface Type:
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Asphalt
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Airport Elevation:
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4320 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Dry
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Runway Used:
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07/25
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
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5200 ft / 60 ft
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VFR Approach/Landing:
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Full stop
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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4 Serious
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
|
|
Aircraft Fire:
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None
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|
Ground Injuries:
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|
Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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4 Serious
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Latitude, Longitude:
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43.23625,-120.66469(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Stein, Stephen
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|
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Erik Ramseyer; Federal Aviation Administration; Portland, OR
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Original Publish Date:
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August 16, 2022 Investigation Class:
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4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105103
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