# NTSB ANC12CA033: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 Ecureuil, N191EH, Valdez, AK, April 18, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 18, 2012, 11:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Valdez, AK
- Coordinates: 61.354721, -146.430282 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3547&lon=-146.4303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83463
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83463/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83463
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA033

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing surface, which resulted in the tail rotor contacting terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing a high-skid-equipped helicopter on a snow-covered glacier. After touchdown, both skids sank into the snow, and the tail rotor contacted terrain. The tail rotor drive shaft and tail rotor gear box sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing a high-skid equipped helicopter on a snow-covered glacier. After touchdown, both skids sank into the snow, and the tail rotor contacted terrain. The tail rotor drive shaft and tail rotor gear box sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N191EH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350 B2 ECUREUIL
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2505
- Airframe hours: 9346
- Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1SER 681 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Era Helicopters LLC
- Registered owner: Era Helicopters LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 9, 2012, 83 hours before
- Departed: PAVD, Valdez, AK
- Destination: Valdez, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 28, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 2,269 total, 289 in this make and model, 1,455 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: PAVD, 17 nm away

## 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 20120418006089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120418006089A), Apr 18, 2012: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, Valdez, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot flew approach to snow field/glacier landing. While lowering the helicopter into the soft, deep snow for landing, the tail rotor contacted the snow…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83463. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367712&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.

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