# Accident 20001111041759A: Snias AS350B2, Girdwood, AK, November 11, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 11, 2000, 13:00 local time
- Place: Girdwood, AK
- Airport: Girdwood Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: ERAA
- Location: 60.9000° N, 148.9096° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9000&lon=-148.9096&mi=10
- Aircraft: N216EH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N216EH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1 (registry code 60053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1D1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,041 total, 297 in this make and model, 121 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC01LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA020) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001111041759A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT WAS HOVERING HELICOPTER DOWN A RIDGELINE 10-20 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE AT AN ELEVATION OF 2700 FEET HEADING INTO THE WIND CREATING BLOWING SNOW ALONG AN ADJACENT SLOPE FOR A FILM SHOOT OF AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR MOUNTAIN DEW. THE HELICOPTER WAS MAKING THE FOURTH RUN AT 5 KIAS BUT CONTINUED FURTHER THAN PREVIOUS RUNS AND EXPERIENCE FLAT LIGHT CONDITIONS FROM AN ADJACENT MOUNTAIN SHADOW. THE PILOT LOST DEPTH PERCEPTION AND BECAME MOMENTARILY DISORIENTED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY THE HELICOPTER FORWARD AND UP, CONTACTING THE TAIL ROTOR IN 4-5' OF LOOSE SNOW. THE PILOT LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON A NEARBY ROAD WITH NO ABNORMAL VIBRATIONS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE HELICOOPTER BY THE PILOT, THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS VISUAL DAMAGE. COMPANY MAINTENANCE WAS NOTIFIED AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS FOUND TO HAVE EVIDENCE OF TORSIONAL STRESS APPLIED FROM THE CONTACT OF THE TAIL ROTOR WITH THE FROZEN SURFACE. THE TAIL ROTOR ITSELF REMAINED INTACT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC01LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA020), Nov 11, 2000: Eurocopter AS-350B2 (N216EH), Girdwood, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain. A factor in the accident was flat light conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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