Aerospatiale AS350 N288CH

Summary

On 28 April 2019 at about 01:37 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350 registered N288CH, operated by Coastal Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Juneau, Alaska, United States. 6 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

28 April 2019 at 01:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Juneau, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

58.4911, -134.4550

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS350

Registration

N288CH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1990

Engines

1

Operator

Coastal Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Juneau → Juneau

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA233

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach to landing on a ridge and his failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain, which resulted in a tail rotor strike.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the second landing on a "ridge" and while dropping off passengers for skiing, the helicopter's tail rotor contacted a higher area of snow-covered terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and the tail rotor gear box's mounting surface. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.