# Accident 20080928848509A: Euroco AS350B2, Nikiski, AK, September 28, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 28, 2008, 10:38 local time
- Place: Nikiski, AK
- Airport: Offshore Systems-Kenai
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: LCFA
- Location: 60.9031° N, 151.3686° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9031&lon=-151.3686&mi=10
- Aircraft: N352EV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N352EV-2022-04-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCO AS350B2
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,520 total, 220 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC08CA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA129) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080928848509A

## Narrative

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

(-23)EVERGREEN HELICOPTER INTERNATIONAL (LCFA) EVERGREEN HELICOPTERS INTERNATIONAL (LCFA) DISPATCHED AN A-STAR AS-350 HELICOPTER FROM THE XTO BASE AT NIKISKI, ALASKA AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 AM LOCAL ON 09-28-2008.  THE PURPOSE WAS AN ON DEMAND CFR 14 PART 135 FLIGHT TO THE SPUR OIL WELL PLATFORM HELIPAD LOCATED IN COOK INLET, ALASKA.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ON ARRIVAL AT THE HELIPAD HE ALIGNED THE AIRCRAFT ON A NORTHERLY HEADING INTO THE LIGHT WIND OUT OF THE NORTH WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH.  AS HE ARRIVED OVER THE HELIPAD, HE MADE A RIGHT PEDAL TURN TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE AXIS OF THE HELIPAD FOR LANDING.  HE STATED APPROXIMATLEY TWO (2) SECONDS PRIOR TO SKID CONTACT WITH THE HELIPAD, THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION.  HE STATED HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER WITH NO PROBLEM AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN.  AFTER THE ROTOR BLADES CAME TO A STOP, HE INVESTIGATED THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION AND SAW APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE INCHES OF THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE MISSING.  HE ALSO STATED HE SAW WHERE THE TAIL ROTOR HAD MADE CONTACT WITH ONE OF THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS THAT HOLD THE HELIPAD SAFETY NET IN PLACE.

## 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 ANC08CA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA129), Sep 28, 2008: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (N352EV), Kenai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from the safety netting during final approach and landing.

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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