# Accident 20020321007779A: Snias AS350B, Susanville, CA, March 21, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 21, 2002, 13:35 local time
- Place: Susanville, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: ML6A
- Location: 40.3769° N, 120.5731° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3769&lon=-120.5731&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1184H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1184H-2004-06-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: S N I A S AS-350B ECUREUIL (registry code 8680801, https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as-350b-ecureuil) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02FA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA114) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020321007779A

## Narrative

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

(.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.

## 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 LAX02FA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA114), Mar 21, 2002: Eurocopter AS-350B (N1184H), Susanville, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance above the water while performing a low altitude flight. Factors relating to the accident were the glassy water condition, and a lack of…

## Other reports on N1184H (1)

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

- [Incident 19870614040849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870614040849I), Jun 14, 1987: Snias AS350B (N1184H), Owasso, OK. Main rotor vibrations and unusual noise heard en route. Landed off airport. Spherical stop bearing had failed.

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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