# NTSB ANC01LA020: Eurocopter AS-350B2, N216EH, Girdwood, AK, November 11, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 11, 2000, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Girdwood, AK - Coordinates: 60.899974, -148.909591 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9000&lon=-148.9096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50702/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain. A factor in the accident was flat light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, maneuvering - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - snow covered - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - other (contributing factor) - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - twisted ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was maneuvering a helicopter over snow-covered terrain along a mountain ridge while conducting a photo flight. The end of the ridge line was in a shadow. While flying in the area of shadow, the pilot began to lose depth perception, and he added engine power to move away from the ridge. The left landing gear skid tube made contact with snow on the ridge, and the pilot felt a vibration. He landed on lower terrain and shut down the helicopter. A subsequent inspection of the helicopter disclosed internal damage to the tail rotor spars, and a torsional twist in the tail rotor drive shaft. ## Factual narrative On November 11, 2000, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a high skid equipped Eurocopter AS-350-B2 helicopter, N216EH, sustained substantial damage while maneuvering over snow-covered terrain, about four miles east of Girdwood, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The helicopter was operated by ERA Aviation Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Girdwood airport, about 1115. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on November 21, 2000, the vice president of safety for the operator reported that the pilot was conducting a photo flight in the area of Mount Alyeska. According to the vice president, the pilot related that he was maneuvering along a mountain ridge. The end of the ridge line was in a shadow. While flying in the area of shadow, the pilot began to lose depth perception, and he added engine power to move away from the ridge. The left landing gear skid tube made contact with snow on the ridge, and the pilot felt a vibration. He landed on lower terrain and shut down the helicopter. A subsequent inspection of the helicopter disclosed internal damage to the tail rotor spars, and a torsional twist in the tail rotor drive shaft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N216EH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N216EH), registered now, S/N 3184, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter AS-350B2 - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (registry code 8680950) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (registry code 60053, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3184 - Airframe hours: 1096 - Engines: Turbomeca ARRIEL 101 712 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Era Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 2, 2000, 8 hours before - Departed: AQY, GIRDWOOD, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 6,940 total, 298 in this make and model, 5,394 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001111041759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001111041759A), Nov 11, 2000: Snias AS350B2, Girdwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was hovering helicopter down a ridgeline 10-20 feet above the surface at an elevation of 2700 feet heading into the wind creating blowing snow… 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. --- 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.