# Accident 20140801013139A: S.N.I.A.S. AS350B ASTAR, Tahoma, CA, August 1, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2014, 12:56 local time
- Place: Tahoma, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: CAXA
- Location: 39.0047° N, 120.2556° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0047&lon=-120.2556&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3597T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3597T-2018-03-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: S N I A S AS350D ASTAR (registry code 8680803, https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: S.N.I.A.S. AS350B ASTAR
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1SER
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14FA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA324) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140801013139A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING A REMOTE LANDING ZONE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. DURING THE TURNING DEPARTURE, THE PILOT BELIEVES HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO RAPIDLY DESCEND THROUGH SEVERAL TREES, THEN IMPACT THE GROUND. THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED AND THE FUSELAGE ENDED UP ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT AND RIGHT SEATED PASSENGER SUFFERED HEAD AND LEG INJURIES RESPECTIVELY.

## 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 WPR14FA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA324), Aug 1, 2014: S.N.I.A.S. AS350B (N3597T), Tahoma, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of helicopter control due to settling with power while maneuvering for takeoff.

## Other reports on N3597T (1)

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

- [Incident 19950619016569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950619016569I), Jun 19, 1995: Snias AS350D (N3597T), San Francisco, CA. Narrative: after conducting an external load operation at the tanfaran shopping mall in san bruno the pilot was heading back to his base of operations in san…

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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