Eurocopter AS-350B-2 N6099Y

Summary

On 11 September 1999 at about 00:30 local time, a Eurocopter AS-350B-2 registered N6099Y was involved in an accident near Juneau, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 September 1999 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Juneau, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

58.5806, -134.7708

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS-350B-2

Registration

N6099Y

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC99LA141

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, snow-covered terrain, and self-induced pressure to continue the search.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial helicopter pilot, with one passenger aboard, was en route from Petersburg to Juneau, when he was requested to join a search for an overdue company helicopter (N6007S). He said that just after entering the search area, he received a radio transmission from another company helicopter (N6052C), who was also involved in the search. The pilot of N6052C informed him that he had crashed on the ice field, and required assistance. The pilot of N6099Y stated that poor weather conditions in the vicinity N6052C would not allow the him to land, so he elected to return to the airport for fuel, and wait for better weather conditions. After refueling, he returned to the accident site of N6052C, where weather conditions had improved. After landing, the uninjured pilot and passenger boarded N6099Y, and all aboard agreed to continue the search for N6007S. The pilot of N6099Y stated that he was able to locate the downed helicopter about two miles directly in front of his location. He said that he slowed the helicopter to about 30 knots in an attempt to gain reference using a mountain range on the left side of the helicopter, and the accident site of N6007S. He said: 'The ceiling at my location was at least 1,000 feet agl, and visibility towards 07S was more than six miles. Just before the impact, I was sure I was at least 500 feet agl.' The pilot added that 'flat light conditions' hampered his ability to see the topographical features of the ice field below. The helicopter struck the snow-covered ice field, slid about 50 feet, nosed over, and rolled to the left. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and rotor system. The accident helicopter was not equipped with a radar altimeter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.