Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL N191EH

Summary

On 18 April 2012 at about 19:25 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL registered N191EH, operated by ERA Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Valdez, 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

18 April 2012 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Valdez, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.3547, -146.4303

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL

Registration

N191EH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

ERA Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Valdez → Valdez

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC12CA033

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing surface, which resulted in the tail rotor contacting terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing a high-skid-equipped helicopter on a snow-covered glacier. After touchdown, both skids sank into the snow, and the tail rotor contacted terrain. The tail rotor drive shaft and tail rotor gear box sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.