# Accident 20010909039309A: Snias AS350BA, Skagway, AK, September 9, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 9, 2001, 10:53 local time
- Place: Skagway, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Prw On Run Landing (Rotorcraft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: HXSA
- Location: 59.4500° N, 135.3000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.4500&lon=-135.3000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N60809, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60809-2005-05-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 BA (registry code 8680955, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-ba) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350BA
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,600 total, 400 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC01LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA139) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010909039309A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2001, A EUROCOPTER AS-350 BA HELICOPTER, N60809, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING ON THE SURFACE OF THE DENVER GLACIER, ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SKAGWAY, ALASKA. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) BUSINESS FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91. THE HELICOPTER IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY TEMSCO HELICOPTERS, INC., KETCHIKAN, ALASKA. THE SOLO COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WERE IN EFFECT. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING UTILIZED TO DEMOBILIZE A REMOTE TOURIST CAMP LOCATED AT THE 4,000 FEET LEVEL OF THE DENVER GLACIER. THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE AREA HAD RECEIVED ABOUT 6 INCHES OF VERY LIGHT, POWDER SNOW. THE ACCIDENT PILOT HOVERED THE HELICOPTER TOWARD THE LANDING AREA, THE PILOT 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.

## 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 ANC01LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA139), Sep 9, 2001: Eurocopter AS 350 BA (N60809), Skagway, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged flare while landing. Factors associated with the accident were whiteout conditions, and snow-covered terrain.

## Other reports on N60809 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19930707038269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930707038269I), Jul 7, 1993: Snias AS350BA (N60809), Skagway, AK, Minor damage. Aircraft contacted top of a tree with horizontal stablizer on approach to land. Landed safely.

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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