# Accident 20040511009609A: Snias AS350B, Skagway, AK, May 11, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2004, 14:10 local time
- Place: Skagway, AK
- Airport: Skagway Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HXSA
- Location: 59.3689° N, 135.3697° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3689&lon=-135.3697&mi=10
- Aircraft: N60618, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60618-2004-09-23) (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
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1D1
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,159 total, 17 in this make and model, 57 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC04LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA053) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040511009609A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT REPORTED INITIAL ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT DURING DESCENT FROM 2600 FEET FOLLOWED BY THE STEADY LOW ROTOR WARNING HORN AND THE GENERATOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND LANDED IN THE WATER JUST OFF THE BEACH AND A SUCCESSFUL EVACUATION OF ALL PERSONS ON BOARD WAS ACCOMPLISHED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AS A RESULT OF THE AUTOROTATION LANDING OR THE EVACUATION. AFTER EVACUATION, THE AIRCRAFT SANK INTO ABOUT 40 FEET OF WATER. THE EMERGENCY FLOTATION SYSTEM WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE MANUALLY FIRED WITHOUT SUCCESS.

## 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 ANC04LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA053), May 11, 2004: Aerospatiale AS-350B2 (N60618), Skagway, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a ditching and submersion of the helicopter when the emergency float system did not deploy. Factors…

## Other reports on N60618 (1)

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

- [Accident 19950531014389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950531014389A), May 31, 1995: Snias AS350B (N60618), Skagway, AK, Substantial damage. After boarding prior to engine start helicopter slid into a small crevasse and rolled. Had landed on a glacier.

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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