- Date
- July 25, 2018, 10:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Kobuk, AK
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N354LAEurocopter AS 350 B3
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- FAA report
- 20180725017949A
- Case key
- 97858
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent dynamic rollover during takeoff.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The commercial pilot of the helicopter was transporting equipment in support of remote mining activities using a 100-foot long-line. During takeoff, and while preparing to lift the external sling load, he inadvertently allowed the helicopter to drift laterally to the right and the right skid struck the ground, resulting in a dynamic rollover. The helicopter continued to roll to the right, and the main rotor blades struck the ground. The helicopter subsequently came to rest on its right side, sustaining substantial damage to the main rotor drive system, fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N354LA
- Reported as
- Eurocopter AS 350 B3
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3285
- Built
- 2000
- Airframe hours
- 6,472.8
- Engine
- Safran Arriel, 847 hp, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 133
- Operator
- Trans Aero Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Roberts Aircraft Co
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · July 13, 2018
- Departed
- Kobuk, AK
- Destination
- Kobuk, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 23, 2018
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 5,061 total · 225 in this make and model · 4,322 as pilot in command · 193 in the last 90 days · 117 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 175° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.