# Accident 20010311005609A: Snias AS350B2, Mazama, WA, March 11, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 2001, 09:00 local time
- Place: Mazama, WA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: ERAA
- Location: 48.5900° N, 120.3895° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5900&lon=-120.3895&mi=10
- Aircraft: N189EH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA01LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA061) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010311005609A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT ATTEMPTED LANDING AT HELI-SKI LANDING SITE ON MOUNTAIN FACE, AT APPROX. 8,300 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. DURING LANDING ATTEMPT PILOT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE DOWNDRAFT WINDS COMING DOWN THE FACE OF THE MOUNTAIN, LATERAL TO THE LANDING HELICOPTER. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE LANDING AND INTIATED AN ABORT TO THE LANDING. DURING THE ABORT IT BECAME EVIDENT TO THE PILOT (AS A RESULT OF THE DOWNDRAFTS) THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE FLIGHT AWAY FROM THE MOUNTAIN. THE PILOT ELECTED TO TURN THE A/C INTO THE WIND, TOWARDS THE FACE OF THE MOJNTAIN AND ATTEMPT A LANDING ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDE WITH ZERO OR MINIMAL AIRSPEED. AFTER TOWUCHDOWN, THE A/C PITCHED FORWARD AND THE ROTOR STRUCK THE MOUNTAINSIDE. THE HELICOPTER THEN IMMEDIATELY TWISTED TO THE RIGHT, AND THEN ROLLED OVER ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE, ENDING UP NEARLY UPSIDE DOWN.

## 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 SEA01LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA061), Mar 11, 2001: Eurocopter AS-350 B2 Ecureuil (N189EH), Mazama, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Snow covered terrain, high and variable wind conditions, and failure of attaining the proper touchdown point were factors.

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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