Aerospatiale AS350 B2 E N208CH
13 April 2009 · Haines, Alaska, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 13 April 2009 at about 02:00 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350 B2 E registered N208CH, operated by Coastal Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Haines, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. 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 02:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Haines, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 59.4036, -136.4192
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350 B2 E
- Registration
- N208CH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Coastal Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Haines → Haines
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC09LA031
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain during the landing approach in flat light conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The solo airline transport helicopter pilot reported that he was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 positioning flight and was approaching an off-airport landing site on a snow-covered glacier to pick up skiers. He said as he neared the site, he inadvertently flew the helicopter into an unseen rise, resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter and serious injuries to himself. He said he had just flown from bright sunlight into shade, and due to the prevailing flat light, he was unable to discern his height above the glacier. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the helicopter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS350 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2009 | Aerospatiale AS350 | Cusco, Peru | Coyotair S.A.C. | Fatal | 3 |
| 27 Aug 2009 | Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL | Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States | Las Vegas Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 2009 | Aerospatiale AS350 | Loreto, Peru | Helinka | Fatal | 2 |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Aerospatiale AS350 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | ERA Helicopters LLC | No injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 2010 | Aerospatiale AS350 | El Paso, Texas, United States | Enchantment Aviation Inc | Fatal | 3 |
| 27 May 2011 | Aerospatiale AS350 | Big Trout Lake, Ontario, Canada | Expedition Helicopters | Unknown | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 2009 | Beechcraft V35A | Northway, Alaska, United States | Patigler Gerhard | Fatal | 2 |
| 11 Jul 2009 | Noorduyn UC-64A | Akiachak, Alaska, United States | Renfro Michael W | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Beechcraft G18S | Yakutat, Alaska, United States | Munich Hans W | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 2009 | Cessna A185F | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | Frank R. Bell | No injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 2009 | De Havilland DHC-2 | King Salmon, Alaska, United States | Katmai Air Leasing LLC | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 2009 | Harden RV-7 | Elim, Alaska, United States | Harden Bruce D R | Fatal | 2 |