Eurocopter AS 350 BA N60809
9 September 2001 · Skagway, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 9 September 2001 at about 18:45 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 BA registered N60809 was involved in an accident near Skagway, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 18:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Skagway, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 59.4500, -135.3000
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 BA
- Registration
- N60809
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Skagway → Skagway
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC01LA139
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudged flare while landing. Factors associated with the accident were whiteout conditions, and snow-covered terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The certificated commercial pilot was attempting to land at a remote tourist camp located at the 4,000 feet level of remote glacier. The day before the accident, the area had received about 6 inches of very light, powder snow. As the pilot hovered the helicopter toward the landing area, he became disoriented in whiteout conditions, and lost all visual reference due to blowing snow. As the helicopter drifted to the right, the right skid struck the snow, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and drive train components.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Eurocopter AS-350 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 2001 | Eurocopter AS-350 B2 ECUREUIL | Mazama, Washington, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 May 2001 | Eurocopter AS-350-B2 | Houston, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Feb 2001 | Eurocopter AS-350-B2 | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | Safari Helicopter, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Nov 2001 | Eurocopter AS-350-BA | Swanee, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Apr 2000 | Eurocopter AS-350 BA | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Apr 2002 | Eurocopter AS-350-B2 | Valdez, Alaska, United States | Evergreen Helicopters of Alaska Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Sep 2001 | Piper PA-12 | Tok, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2001 | Freeman GLASTAR | Glennallen, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2001 | Piper PA-18-135 | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 2001 | Piper PA-16 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Aug 2001 | Sikorsky S61A | Wrangell, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Cessna 150 | Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |