20020321007779A

(.19) On March 21, 2002, about 1335 pacific standard time, an Eurocopter AS-350B, N1184H, collided with the surface of honey lake, about 13 miles southeast of Susanville, California. The positioning flight was operated by mountain life flight of Susanville under 14 CFR part 91. The airline transport rated pilot received fatal injuries and the two passengers were seriously injured. The helicopter was sustantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the washoe medical center about 1300, and was returning to the operator's base at Susanville. At 1334, the pilot contacted the company dispatcher by radio and estimated the flight's time of arrival as 10 minutes. No further transmissions from the pilot were received. According to a passenger, just before the accident the pilot stated on the intercom, "boy, it's disorienting when the lake is this smooth." The wreckage was located about 1,000 feet from the honey lake shoreline. (-23) 03/21/2002, about 1336 pstm a Eurocopter, AS-350BA, N1184H, collided with the surface of honey lake about 13 miles south of Susanville, CA. The helicopter was operated by mountain life flight of Susanville, CA, and was returning from washoe medical center in reno, NV, on a positioning flight under CFR part 91. The ATP pilot received fatal injuries and the two passengers were seriously injured. The helicopter was destroyed. No fire resulted. VFR weather conditions prevailed. At 1334, the pilot contacted the company dispatcher by radio and estimated his arrival time in ten minutes. No further transmissions were received. According to a passenger, just prior to the accident the pilot had stated on the intercom, "boy, it's disorienting when the lake is this smooth." The wreckage was located about 3.5 miles from the west shore and about 2.5 miles from the east shore. The water in the lake was only about four to five feet deep.