Eurocopter AS 350 B2 N149TH

Summary

On 22 August 2025 at about 20:42 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 registered N149TH, operated by Temsco Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Juneau, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

22 August 2025 at 20:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Juneau, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Glacier (NONE)

Coordinates

58.5500, -134.5400

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350 B2

Registration

N149TH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Temsco Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Juneau → Juneau

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC25LA092

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during takeoff from uneven, snow-covered terrain in flat light conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while departing from a remote, snow-covered, glacier camp, which required a hovering backwards departure from a helipad site, the helicopter’s vertical stabilizer struck a snow berm, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail boom assembly. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot noted that flat light conditions made it difficult to discern the height of the helicopter over the uneven, snow-covered terrain immediately surrounding the helipad site.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.