# NTSB ANC08CA129: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, N352EV, Kenai, AK, September 28, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 28, 2008, 10:57 local (18:57 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.903057, -151.368606
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9031&lon=-151.3686&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 11, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69343
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA129
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69343/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA129

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from the safety netting during final approach and landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot was making a positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said he had shuttled passengers to an oil platform, and was returning to pick them up. He said as he approached the platform helipad, the tail rotor struck the safety netting surrounding the landing area. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident, but that the tail rotor gearbox and tail boom were substantially damaged during the accident.

## Factual narrative

The commercial pilot was making a positoning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said he had shuttled passengers to an oil platform, and was returning to pick them up. He said as he approached the platform helipad, the tail rotor struck the safety netting surrounding the landing area. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident, but that the tail rotor gearbox and tail boom were substantially damaged during the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N352EV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N352EV-2022-04-05), registration cancelled 2022-04-05, S/N 2555, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2
- Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (registry code 8680950) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2555
- Airframe hours: 3055
- Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1SER 681 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Evergreen Helicopter Inc., doing business as Evergreen Helicopters Alaska
- Registered owner: Cfs Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 11, 2008
- Departed: Kenai, AK
- Destination: Kenai, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 14,224 total, 210 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 20080928848509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080928848509A), Sep 28, 2008: Euroco AS350B2, Nikiski, AK, Substantial damage. (-23)Evergreen helicopter international (lcfa) evergreen helicopters international (lcfa) dispatched an a-star AS-350 helicopter from the xto base at Nikiski,…

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.

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