# Accident 20090412046999A: Aerospatial AS350 B2 EC, Haines, AK, April 12, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 2009, 18:00 local time
- Place: Haines, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: XCHA
- Location: 59.4036° N, 136.4192° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.4036&lon=-136.4192&mi=10
- Aircraft: N208CH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N208CH-2009-12-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL (registry code 8680813, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350-b2-ecureuil) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIAL AS350 B2 EC
- Reported engine: HONEYWELL LTS101-700D-2
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 9,960 total, 1,935 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC09LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090412046999A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 12, 2009, ABOUT 1800 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AEROSPATIALE AS-350 B2 HELICOPTER, N208CH, OPERATED BY COASTAL HELICOPTERS, JUNEAU, ALASKA AS A PART 91 POSITIONING FLIGHT TO PICK UP SKIERS, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A SNOW-COVERED GLACIER, ABOUT 32 MILES NORTHWEST OF HAINES, ALASKA. THE SOLO AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS IN EFFECT.  THE PILOT STATED HE HAD BEEN TAKING SKIERS TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE GENERAL AREA OF THE ACCIDENT TO SKI DOWN THE SLOPES, AND WOULD THEN PICK THEM UP AT THE BOTTOM.  THE FLIGHT TO THE LITTLE JARVIS GLACIER WAS NOT THE PILOT'S FIRST LANDING AT THIS SITE THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT HE APPROACHED IT FROM A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND AT A SHALLOWER ANGLE THAN PREVIOUSLY.  THE PILOT STATED HE FLEW INTO A SMALL, UNSEEN RISE ON THE GLACIER, HIT HARD, BOUNCED ABOUT 5 FEET INTO THE AIR, AND SPUN ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXIS THREE TIMES BEFORE DESCENDING ONTO THE GLACIER NEAR THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HELICOPTER PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD JUST FLOWN FROM BRIGHT SUNSHINE INTO SHADOW, AND DUE TO THE ALL WHITE SURFACE OF THE GLACIER AND FLAT LIGHTING CONDITIONS, HE WAS UNABLE TO ACCURATELY GAUGE HIS HEIGHT ABOVE THE GLACIER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS RADAR ALTIMETER EQUIPPED.

## 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 ANC09LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA031), Apr 13, 2009: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 E (N208CH), Haines, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain during the landing approach in flat light conditions.

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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