Airbus Helicopters AS350B3E N589SH

Summary

On 20 August 2025 at about 22:30 local time, a Airbus Helicopters AS350B3E registered N589SH, operated by Soloy Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Skwentna, 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

20 August 2025 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Skwentna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.7692, -152.9869

Aircraft

Airbus Helicopters AS350B3E

Registration

N589SH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Soloy Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC25LA097

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s inadvertent entanglement of a lightweight Kevlar long line into the helicopters operating main rotor system, resulting in a severe imbalance and separation of the main rotor gearbox.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The operator reported that the helicopter was being used to sling construction equipment to a remote mine site located in an area of steep mountainous terrain. After the pilot placed the external load at a prearranged site next to the drill pad, he maneuvered the helicopter to a landing site in an area of rock-covered terrain to disconnect and stow the lightweight Kevlar long line that was still attached to the helicopter’s cargo hook. After a successful landing, the pilot reduced the engine throttle to ground idle, locked the flight controls, then exited the helicopter with the engine and rotor still operating. As the pilot coiled the Kevlar long line into the helicopter, a portion of the line became entangled in the rock covered terrain, and the pilot pulled hard to free it. As the Kevlar long line suddenly released from the rocks, the recoiling line became entangled in the operating main rotor blades which resulted in a severe main rotor imbalance. As a result, the main rotor gearbox and entire main rotor system were subsequently ripped from the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom assembly, and main rotor drive system. 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.