# Accident 20180928014109A: Airbus Helicopters Inc AS350B3, Gustavus, AK, September 28, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 28, 2018, 10:55 local time
- Place: Gustavus, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unknown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 58.5953° N, 137.5945° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.5953&lon=-137.5945&mi=10
- Aircraft: N907PL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N907PL-2022-01-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Airbus Helicopters AS350B3 (registry code 1145005, https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-helicopters-as350b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Safran ARRIEL-2D (registry code 59997, https://openairdocs.org/engine/safran-arriel-2d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS INC AS350B3
- Reported engine: SAFRAN ARRIEL 2D
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,129 total, 3 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18FA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA391) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180928014109A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2018, ABOUT 1055 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIRBUS HELICOPTERS AS350-B3E, IMPACTED SHALLOW WATER ON A BEACH IN GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK ABOUT 60 MILES NORTHWEST OF GUSTAVUS, ALASKA. THE CO-PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED, ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND THE PILOT AND ONE OTHER PASSENGER ARE MISSING. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO CHINILNA EQUIPMENT LLC AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM THE JUNEAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JNU) JUNEAU, ALASKA, AND WAS EN ROUTE TO YAKUTAT AIRPORT (YAK), YAKUTAT, ALASKA.

ACCORDING TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS, THE INTENTION OF THE TRIP WAS TO DELIVER THE HELICOPTER FROM AIRBUS HELICOPTERS FACTORY IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TX, TO HIS HOME IN ANCHORAGE, AK. THE LEFT SEAT PILOT WAS ONBOARD FOR INSURANCE COVERAGE PURPOSES. THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PILOT PLANNED TO DROP OFF THE LEFT SEAT PILOT IN WASILLA, AK, THEN PROCEED HOME TO ANCHORAGE. THE ACCIDENT LEG ORIGINATED FROM JUNEAU WHERE THE HELICOPTER WAS REFUELED BY AERO SERVICES.

THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT DEPARTED JUNEAU AND PROCEEDED WEST OVER THE MOUNTAINS 3,000 TO 4,000 FT AND THEN NORTH ALONG THE COAST LINE ABOUT 500 TO 700 FT. THE LAST KNOWN GPS POINT WAS 58.5 X -137.3833, 8.5 NAUTICAL MILES (NM) SOUTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE HELICOPTER WAS 500 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) WHILE FLYING ABOVE THE BEACH.

## 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 CEN18FA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA391), Sep 28, 2018: Airbus Helicopters AS350 (N907PL), Gustavus, AK, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor speed after setting the engine fuel control to idle, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control and impact with water.

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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