# Accident 20220315000899A: Eurocopter AS 350 BA, Valdez, AK, March 15, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 15, 2022, 15:00 local time
- Place: Valdez, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: YDAA
- Location: 61.2622° N, 145.8749° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2622&lon=-145.8749&mi=10
- Aircraft: N99676, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99676) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 BA (registry code 8680955, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-ba) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honeywell LTS101-600A3A (registry code 33819, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-lts101-600a3a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 BA
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 9,500 total, 1,711 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC22LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA023) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220315000899A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 15, 2022, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AS 350 B2 N99676 SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF IMPACTING TERRAIN JUST PRIOR TO LANDING AT THE PILOTS INTENDED SPOT. DURING THE INVESTIGATORY INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PRIMARY ROOT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF FLAT LIGHT CONDITIONS PREVENTING THE PILOT FROM SEEING A RIDGELINE OF SNOW JUST PRIOR TO THE INTENDED LANDING POINT. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS FAILURE TO SET THE RADAR ALTIMETER CORRECTLY WHICH MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE RADAR ALTIMETER WAS SET TO ZERO PREVENTING ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION TO IMPACT.

THE POI AND THE OPERATOR HAVE AGREED TO SEND OUT A COMPANY MEMO REMINDING PILOTS TO SET THE RADAR ALTIMETER CORRECTLY IN HELI-SKI OPERATIONS AND IN ALL OTHER POTENTIALLY FLAT-LIGHT SCENARIO FLYING.

## 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 ANC22LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA023), Mar 15, 2022: Eurocopter AS 350 BA (N99676), Valdez, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path in flat light conditions, which resulted in landing short of the intended landing spot and impact with terrain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.