American Eurocopter AS-350B N35AG

Summary

On 8 June 1999 at about 15:14 local time, a American Eurocopter AS-350B registered N35AG was involved in an accident near Ashcamp, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 1999 at 15:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Ashcamp, Kentucky, United States

Coordinates

37.2607, -82.4292

Aircraft

American Eurocopter AS-350B

Registration

N35AG

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ashcamp → Pikeville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99FA136

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate visual look out which resulted in an in-flight collision with wires.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After dropping off passengers at a mining site, the helicopter was observed climbing in a shallow nose down attitude, heading north, when it impacted two electrical wires. The helicopter then descended and impacted on a road between vertical walls of a previously mined area, where it was consumed by a post-crash fire. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a pre-impact malfunction. Examination of the main rotor blades revealed several scrape marks and gouges consistent with a wire strike. Visibility reported at a nearby airport was 10 statute miles, and a witness to the accident said the wind was 'calm,' and visibility was 'good.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.