Aerospatiale AS-350-B2 N187EH
31 May 1998 · Juneau, Alaska, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 31 May 1998 at about 00:11 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350-B2 registered N187EH was involved in an accident near Juneau, Alaska, United States. 8 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:11
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Juneau, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 58.5809, -134.7709
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350-B2
- Registration
- N187EH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC98FA061
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Probable cause
The failure of both command pilots to maintain an adequate lookout to see and avoid each other's aircraft. Factors associated with the accident were the other pilot's failure to follow published advisory procedures to monitor/issue position reports on the appropriate radio frequency, and his lack of familiarity with the geographic area.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The air tour helicopter was at 2,100 feet msl, and had just crossed a salt water channel when it collided with the airplane. The helicopter landed with substantial damage, and one injured passenger. The airplane was destroyed when it impacted water in the channel, and both pilot-rated occupants were fatally injured. An 18-inch portion of the airplane's right wing remained attached to the helicopter. None of the occupants of the helicopter saw the airplane prior to collision. The helicopter was on a standard tour route utilized by the company, and published in an FAA advisory pamphlet which the airplane occupants also had on board. The collision occurred at a location where the advised traffic route inbound to the Juneau airport crossed the helicopter's air tour route. The helicopter had completed crossing the channel, and was 100 feet above the upper limit of the recommended altitude for the crossing. The airplane was 100 feet above the lower limit of the recommended altitude for aircraft traveling west. This area has a high volume of VFR air tour, air taxi, and general aviation traffic. The area is uncontrolled, Class G, airspace, with no radar coverage. The helicopter pilot described the visibility as good. The helicopter pilot made traffic advisory radio transmissions on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) for the area of the collision. This frequency was published in the Alaska Supplement, the FAA advisory pamphlet for the area, and the VFR sectional aeronautical chart. The airplane's radios were not tuned to this frequency. The helicopter was illuminated with pulsating landing lights, and high visibility strobes. The airplane was configured with high visibility strobe lights on the wing tips, and two, nose-mounted landing/taxi lights, and a red anti-collision beacon on the tail. The control switches for the anti-collision beacon was found 'ON.' The control switch for the strobe lights was found in the 'OFF' position. The position of the landing/taxi lights could not be determined. Neither pilot in the airplane had any record of flight experience in the Juneau area.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospatiale AS-350-B2 AS-350-B2 | N187EH | - | Substantial |
| Cessna 172RG 172RG | N4948V | Federal Aviation Administrat'n | Destroyed |
Other Aerospatiale AS-350 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Dec 1998 | Aerospatiale AS-350-BA | San Angelo, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 2000 | Aerospatiale AS-350-BA | Henderson, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 May 1995 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B2 | Skagway, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jan 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350 | Lakeland, Florida, United States | Bulldog Airlines Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Feb 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B | Humuula, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Hawaiian Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | Temsco Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 1998 | Boeing 747-400 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Asiana Airlines | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Nov 1998 | Piper PA-12 | Willow, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 1998 | Cessna 207 | Homer, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 Nov 1998 | Piper PA-18-150 | Kenai, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 1998 | Taylorcraft BL12 | Sitka, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 May 1998 | Cessna 208 | Nome, Alaska, United States | Baker Aviation Inc. | Serious injuries | - |