Aerospatiale AS-350-B2 N59715
1 April 1994 · Telluride, Colorado, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 1 April 1994 at about 18:45 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350-B2 registered N59715 was involved in an accident near Telluride, Colorado, United States. 6 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 4 had minor injuries. 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 18:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Telluride, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.9405, -107.9008
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350-B2
- Registration
- N59715
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW94FA114
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Probable cause
FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS WERE UNFAVORABLE WINDS AND IMPROPER APPROACH PLANNING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE CONDUCTING A VISUAL APPROACH TO A LANDING ZONE AT 12,800 FEET MSL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN FROM DOWN WIND TO BASE TO FINAL WHICH PLACED THE HELICOPTER IN A DOWN SLOPE WIND CONDITION. THE HELICOPTER SETTLED, TURNED TO THE LEFT AROUND THE VERTICAL AXIS, AND IMPACTED THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN BELOW THE LANDING ZONE. THE TAIL BOOM SEPARATED AND THE FUSELAGE ROLLED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE DURING WHICH TIME THE PASSENGERS WERE EJECTED. THE INVESTIGATION PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT WAS 4960 POUNDS. ACTUAL GROSS WEIGHT WAS 4375 POUNDS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS-350 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350 | Lakeland, Florida, United States | Bulldog Airlines Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Feb 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B | Humuula, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Hawaiian Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | Temsco Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350 | Caryville, Florida, United States | Usda Forest Service | No injuries | - |
| 31 May 1995 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B2 | Skagway, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1990 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B | Juneau, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 1994 | Bellanca 8KCAB-180 | Colo. Springs, Colorado, United States | Aerotech Flight Services | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Jan 1994 | Cessna 195 | Watkins, Colorado, United States | Hoghland, Vohs, and Murphy | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1994 | Bell 206L-3 | Cascade, Colorado, United States | Puget Sound Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 1 Feb 1994 | Cessna 182P | Meeker, Colorado, United States | Steamboat Flight Academy, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 1994 | Cessna 177RG | Longmont, Colorado, United States | Debruzzi, Michael S. | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1994 | Rockwell 690C | Hayden, Colorado, United States | Casper Air Service | No injuries | - |