ANC06TA047

On April 21, 2006, about 0106 Alaska daylight time, a high skid-equipped American Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopter, N911AA, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote area, about 30 miles northwest of Nikiski, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) government-operated flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The helicopter was operated by the State of Alaska, Department of Public Safety. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The accident flight originated at the Big River Lakes Lodge about 0106, and was en route to Soldotna, Alaska.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 27, the pilot reported that he was transporting an Alaska State Trooper, and a rescue volunteer with their equipment to the Big River Lakes Lodge to search for a missing person. The accident pilot reported that due to dark night conditions and the lack of ground based light sources while flying over unpopulated terrain, he was using a pair of night vision goggles (NVG) to help discern topographical features. He said that after an uneventful outbound flight to the lodge, he landed the helicopter on a frozen lake adjacent to the lodge. The search team subsequently conducted an hour-long search of the lodge and surrounding outbuildings. He said that during the search, snow fell, with a light accumulation of snow on the frozen lake where the accident helicopter was parked.

Unable to locate the missing person, the search team boarded the helicopter for the flight to the Alaska State Trooper's post in Soldotna. Before takeoff, the pilot donned his NVGs. He said that just after takeoff, as the helicopter transitioned from a hover to forward flight, blowing snow from the helicopter's main rotor momentarily reduced his visibility, and he lost all visual reference with the surface of the frozen lake. He reported that while attempting to regain a visual reference, the helicopter's tail rotor guard and vertical stabilizer struck the surface of the lake, and he elected to abort the takeoff and attempt a run-on landing. The helicopter's skids subsequently struck the surface of the ice, and the helicopter bounced several times before stopping. A postaccident inspection revealed substantial damage to the helicopter's vertical stabilizer, tail boom assembly, and fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.

During the April 27 telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, the pilot said that at the time of the accident the State of Alaska Department of Public Safety was not utilizing a formal, or a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved NVG training program.