# NTSB ANC09LA031: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 E, N208CH, Haines, AK, April 13, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 2009, 18:00 local (Apr 13, 2009, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Haines, AK - Coordinates: 59.40361, -136.419174 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.4036&lon=-136.4192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Juneau FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73638 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73638/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73638 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA031 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain during the landing approach in flat light conditions. ## 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: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Light condition: flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo airline transport helicopter pilot reported that he was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 positioning flight and was approaching an off-airport landing site on a snow-covered glacier to pick up skiers. He said as he neared the site, he inadvertently flew the helicopter into an unseen rise, resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter and serious injuries to himself. He said he had just flown from bright sunlight into shade, and due to the prevailing flat light, he was unable to discern his height above the glacier. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2009, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, an Aerospatiale AS-350 B2 E helicopter, N208CH, operated by Coastal Helicopters, Juneau, Alaska as a Part 91 positioning flight to pick up skiers, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a snow-covered glacier, about 32 miles northwest of Haines, Alaska. The solo airline transport certificated pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated from Mile 33 of the Haines Highway about 1750, and was en route to the Little Jarvis Glacier to pick up skiers at the bottom of the glacier. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was in effect. In a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 16, the general manager of Coastal Helicopters said the pilot had been taking skiers to various locations in the general area of the accident to ski down the slopes, and would then pick them up at the bottom. The manager related that the flight to the Little Jarvis Glacier was not the pilot's first landing at this site the day of the accident, but he approached it from a slightly different direction and at a shallower angle than previously. During the accident flight's approach to the landing site, the manager indicated the pilot told him he flew into a small, unseen rise on the glacier, hit hard, bounced about 5 feet into the air, and spun about the vertical axis three times before descending onto the glacier near the initial impact point. The general manager said the pilot reported no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident. He also noted the pilot told him he had just flown from bright sunshine into shadow, and due to the all white surface of the glacier and flat lighting conditions, he was unable to accurately gauge his height above the glacier. A telephone interview on April 20 with the FAA inspector from the Juneau Flight Standards District Office who interviewed the pilot on April 17, disclosed the same information. The accident pilot also submitted a written statement to the NTSB dated April 14, which was consistent with the FAA inspector's and general manager's statements. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N208CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N208CH-2009-12-14), registration cancelled 2009-12-14, S/N 2452, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350 B2 E - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350-b2-ecureuil) (registry code 8680813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2452 - Airframe hours: 7389 - Engines: Honeywell LTS101-700D2 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Coastal Helicopters - Registered owner: Coastal Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 21, 2009 - Departed: Haines, AK - Destination: Haines, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 12, 2009; flight hours: 9,960 total, 1,935 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °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 20090412046999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090412046999A), Apr 12, 2009: Aerospatial AS350 B2 EC, Haines, AK, Substantial damage. On April 12, 2009, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, an aerospatiale AS-350 B2 helicopter, N208CH, operated by coastal helicopters, juneau, Alaska as a part 91… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73638. 638 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 638 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.