Aerospatiale AS350B N101FW
30 June 1990 · Glacier, Washington, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 30 June 1990 at about 21:50 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B registered N101FW was involved in an accident near Glacier, Washington, United States. 5 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Glacier, Washington, United States
- Coordinates
- 48.8000, -122.0610
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B
- Registration
- N101FW
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Mt Baker → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA90FA115
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
PASSENGER DID NOT FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE HELICOPTER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AT THE END OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT SELECTED A FIELD TO LAND. THE PILOT HAD THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER OPEN HIS DOOR TO CHECK FOR GROUND CLEARANCE AS THE FIELD WAS COVERED WITH 12-15 INCH HIGH GRASS. THE PASSENGER REPORTED ALL WAS CLEAR AND THE HELICOPTER SETTLED TO THE GROUND. AS THE ROTORS WERE STIL WINDING DOWN, THE REAR SEAT LEFT SIDE PASSENGER EXITED THE STILL OPEN DOOR, WALKED TO THE REAR AND UNDER THE TAIL BOOM. THE PASSENGER WAS THEN STRUCK BY THE TAIL ROTOR. THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE PASSENGER HAD EXITED AS THE PILOT HAD NOT GIVEN THE OK TO EXIT TO THE PASSENGERS. THE PILOT FELT THE HELICOPTER SHUTTER AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE ENGINE WAS THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS EXITED THE HELICOPTER. THE PASSENGERRS HAD BEEN BRIEFED AS TO THE AREAS TO AVOID AROUND THE HELICOPTER AND THE PASSENGER THAT EXITED THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN REMINDED AT LEAST THREE TIMES DURING THE DAY TO STAY AWAY FROM THE REAR OF THE HELICOPTER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS350B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Wixom, Michigan, United States | City of Detroit | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Cloverdale, California, United States | Resort Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Saipan | Micronesian Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jul 1991 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Airways, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Oct 1991 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Lone Eagle Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 1989 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Puntilla Lake, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan 1990 | Cessna 177B | Friday Harbor, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Feb 1990 | Bell 206B | Winthrop, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 1990 | Bell BH-47G3B2 | Des Moines, Washington, United States | Richard H. Butz | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1990 | Cessna 140 | Vancouver, Washington, United States | Bogar, Floyd | No injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 1990 | Cessna 150J | Graham, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 1990 | Bell 206 | Cougar, Washington, United States | Bluebird Helicopter | No injuries | - |