# Accident 20231226018759A: Airbus Helicopters Inc AS350B3, Palmer, AK, December 26, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 26, 2023, 10:46 local time
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: 4ZDA
- Location: 61.2522° N, 148.5313° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2522&lon=-148.5313&mi=10
- Aircraft: N21FY (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS INC AS350B3
- Reported engine: SAFRAN ARRIEL 2D
- People aboard: 7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,785 total, 306 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC24LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA009) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231226018759A

## Narrative

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

ON 26 DECEMBER 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1046 A AS350 HELICOPTER WITH 6 PASSENGERS DEPARTED ON A SITE SEEING TOUR. THE DESTINATION WAS A COMPANY APPROVED LANDING SITE NAMED COLONY ROCK. THE AIRCRAFT ARRIVED AT THE PROPOSED LANDING SITE AT APPROXIMATELY 1047. A HIGH AND LOW RECON OF THE LANDING SITE WERE CONDUCTED AT WHICH TIME THE PRESENCE OF FLAT LIGHT CONDITIONS WAS NOTED. AN APPROACH TO THE NORTHWEST WAS INITIATED WHICH THEN TERMINATED TO A 20 FOOT IN GROUND EFFECT HOVER. ONCE IT APPEARED THAT ENOUGH SNOW HAD BEEN DISSIPATED BY THE ROTOR WASH, THE PILOT INITIATED A FINAL DESCENT FROM THE HIGH HOVER. DURING THE DESCENT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AND BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND REAR. THIS DRIFT WAS NOT PERCEIVED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. WHEN THE LEFT SKID TOUCHED THE GROUND, THE UNPERCEIVED DRIFT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL TO THE LEFT AND REAR. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. AT APPROXIMATELY 1049 A DISTRESS SIGNAL WAS SENT USING THE ON-AIRCRAFT SYSTEM AND PASSENGER EVACUATION WAS INITIATED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE RESPONSE TIME BY THE AIRFORCE THE COMPANY CHOSE TO CONDUCT AN INTERNAL EVACUATION OF PASSENGERS AND CREW. 2 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THEY WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND WERE RELEASED LATER THAT DAY. THE REMAINING PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED BY COMPANY AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE POINT OF DEPARTURE. EVACUATIONS WERE COMPLETE BY 1140. THE PIC HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED RECURRENT TRAINING ON OPERATING IN FLAT LIGHT/WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE LANDING SITE.

## 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 ANC24LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA009), Dec 26, 2023: Airbus Helicopters AS350B3 (N21FY), Palmer, 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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