Eurocopter AS-350B2 N216EH

Summary

On 11 November 2000 at about 17:00 local time, a Eurocopter AS-350B2 registered N216EH was involved in an accident near Girdwood, Alaska, United States. 2 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

11 November 2000 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.9000, -148.9096

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS-350B2

Registration

N216EH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Girdwood → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC01LA020

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain. A factor in the accident was flat light conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport certificated pilot was maneuvering a helicopter over snow-covered terrain along a mountain ridge while conducting a photo flight. The end of the ridge line was in a shadow. While flying in the area of shadow, the pilot began to lose depth perception, and he added engine power to move away from the ridge. The left landing gear skid tube made contact with snow on the ridge, and the pilot felt a vibration. He landed on lower terrain and shut down the helicopter. A subsequent inspection of the helicopter disclosed internal damage to the tail rotor spars, and a torsional twist in the tail rotor drive shaft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.