# Accident 20120831018509A: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, Talkeetna, AK, August 31, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2012, 18:00 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: L49A
- Location: 62.7667° N, 148.5833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.7667&lon=-148.5833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N178CH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350 B2 ECUREUIL
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 18,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC12CA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA100) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120831018509A

## Narrative

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

AFTER PLACING AN EXTERNAL LOAD, THE PILOT DESCENDED TO LAND IN THE SAME LOCATION HE, AND OTHER PILOTS HAD LANDED SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY. NEAR THE LANDING ZONE, SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, A PALLET OF CONCRETE BAGS, COVERED WITH A PLASTIC TARP HAD BEEN PLACED FOR THE GROUND CONTRACTORS.  GROUND PERSONNEL WERE REQUIRED TO SECURE THE TARP TO THE PALLET WITH A RATCHET STRAP, WHICH HAD BEEN DONE AND HELD SECURELY FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE EVENT.  HOWEVER, ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT, THE RATCHET STRAP WHICH STILL APPEARED TO BE SECURE, HAD LOOSENED AND BECOME UNSECURED, ALLOWING THE TARP TO FLY UP DUE TO ROTOR WASH DURING THE SHUT DOWN PHASE AND CONTACT THE TAIL ROTOR OF THE HELICOPTER.  THE EVENT OCCURRED AFTER LANDING AND DURING THE 30 SECOND ENGINE COOL DOWN PERIOD.

## 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 ANC12CA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA100), Sep 1, 2012: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 (N178CH), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The entanglement of a plastic tarp in the helicopter’s tail rotor after becoming dislodged from its securement.

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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