Aerospatiale AS350B N160EH

Summary

On 15 June 1989 at about 17:40 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B registered N160EH was involved in an accident near Puntilla Lake, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 June 1989 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Puntilla Lake, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS350B

Registration

N160EH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Puntilla Lake → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

Unk

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC89FA092

1 person died.

THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIR TAXI PLT WAS RETURNING THE HELICOPTER TO ITS BASE CAMP AFTER TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS & PARTS TO A REMOTE DRILLING SITE IN RURAL ALASKA. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE ROCK FACE OF A 3900 FT RIDGE AT THE 3500 FT LEVEL. THE WX IN THE AREA WAS RPRTD TO BE OVERCAST BTN 3000 & 3500 FT MSL WITH LIGHT TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY RAIN. THE PLT HAD AN INSTRUMENT RATING FOR AIRPLANES, BUT NOT FOR HELICOPTERS. HE WAS RPRTDLY IN THE HABIT OF FLYING OVER THE RIDGES, WHEN WX PERMITTED, TO MINIMIZE FLT TIME, INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING LOWER TERRAIN IN NEARBY VALLEYS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.