Airbus AS350 C-GSLY

Summary

On 27 October 2015 at about 01:03 local time, a Airbus AS350 registered C-GSLY, operated by Great Slave Helicopters Limited, was involved in an accident near Deadhorse, 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

27 October 2015 at 01:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Deadhorse, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

69.7858, -148.6425

Aircraft

Airbus AS350

Registration

C-GSLY

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1994

Engines

1

Operator

Great Slave Helicopters Limited

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Deadhorse → Deadhorse

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16LA031

Nobody was injured.

The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, and his subsequent failure to maintain terrain clearance while attempting to land in flat light and whiteout conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the noninstrument-rated commercial pilot, he was flying the helicopter, which was not instrument flight rules capable, to the landing site to pick up a crew of four seismic workers. Before the accident, he conducted a preflight risk assessment, which noted that the area was conducive to whiteout conditions and that visibility was between 1 and 3 statute miles. The assessment fell within the "low risk go flying" category, and a visual flight rules company flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that, while en route to the landing site, the weather began deteriorating and that he encountered an area with flat light conditions over snow-covered ground. The pilot then slowed the helicopter and stayed low to the ground. While slowing down to land, blowing snow from the main rotor downwash subsequently reduced the visibility to whiteout conditions with no ground reference, which likely led to the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation. The helicopter's right skid then contacted the ground, and the helicopter slid right and then rolled onto its right side. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The National Transportation Safety Board has issued safety recommendations noting the importance of pilots being instrument proficient and of aircraft operating in such conditions being equipped with radar altimeters to enhance situational awareness; the accident pilot was not instrument rated and the accident helicopter was not equipped with a radar altimeter. Although the pilot was conducting the flight for a Canadian operator, which would not have been subject to these recommendations, this accident demonstrates the importance of pilots and helicopters being properly equipped to handle operations in such conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.