# Accident 20250822010559A: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Juneau, AK, August 22, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 22, 2025, 12:46 local time
- Place: Juneau, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: HXSA
- Location: 58.5500° N, 134.5400° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.5500&lon=-134.5400&mi=10
- Aircraft: N149TH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N149TH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1 (registry code 60053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 1,987 total, 373 in this make and model, 197 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC25LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250822010559A

## Narrative

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

DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE LANDING SPOT, THE ONLY DIRECTION TO MANEUVER THE AIRCRAFT IS BACKWARDS IN THE SOUTHERN DIRECTION, WHICH IS A NORMAL OPERATION. HE APPLIED AFT CYCLIC TO MOVE IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION, WHICH CAUSED THE STINGER TO INADVERTENTLY PENETRATE INTO THE SNOW. HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE FACT THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED AT THAT POINT IN TIME. WITH THE CONTINUED AFT MOVEMENT, THE STINGER CONTINUED TO DRAG THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT DOWNWARDS. HE FELT AN ABNORMALITY IN THE HELICOPTER DURING THE BACKWARDS MOVEMENT. THE ABNORMALITY THAT HE FELT WAS A LIGHT SHUTTER/VIBRATION FELT THROUGHOUT THE HELICOPTER. THE SHUTTER/VIBRATION STOPPED ONCE AFT MOVEMENT STOPPED, AND ONCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS LEVELED AGAIN.

HE BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO A STATIONARY HOVER, THEN INTO A SLOW FORWARD HOVER TO LAND BACK TO WHERE HE PICKED UP FROM. HE PROCEEDED WITH THE NORMAL SHUT DOWN PROCEDURE ONCE BACK ON THE GROUND.

## 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 ANC25LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA092), Aug 22, 2025: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (N149TH), Juneau, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during takeoff from uneven, snow-covered terrain 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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