# NTSB ANC22LA023: Eurocopter AS 350 BA, N99676, Valdez, AK, March 15, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 15, 2022, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Valdez, AK · Mountainous snow covered - Coordinates: 61.262204, -145.87494 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2622&lon=-145.8749&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA- Juneau Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 104788 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104788/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104788 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA023 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path in flat light conditions, which resulted in landing short of the intended landing spot and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 BA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=8680955), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md) - [Light condition: flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 BA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md?model=8680955), [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: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 BA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8680955), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 BA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=8680955), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the helicopter was being used to transport skiers in support of a commercial Heli-ski operation when the helicopter inadvertently collided with terrain while maneuvering to land on the glacier. The pilot stated that while on approach to an area to pick up a group of skiers, flat light conditions made it difficult to discern topographical features on the snow-covered, featureless, glacial terrain. The pilot said that during the approach, he inadvertently allowed the helicopter to descend below his intended approach path, and the helicopter touched down short of his intended landing site. The helicopter subsequently rolled to the left and the main rotor blades struck the snow-covered terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, tail boom, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99676](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99676), registered now, S/N 1542, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 BA - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 BA](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-ba) (registry code 8680955) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Honeywell LTS101-600A3A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-lts101-600a3a) (registry code 33819, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1542 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 16258 - Engines: HONEYWELL LTS101-600A3A 732 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 135 - Operator: Alpine Air Alaska LLC - Registered owner: Alpine Air Alaska LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 16, 2022, 39.6 hours before - Departed: 16 Mile, AK - Destination: Tsania Valley, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 9,779 total, 9,978 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.47 inHg - Observed at: PAVD, 13 nm away - METAR: PAVD 152356Z 26005KT 8SM FEW034 BKN048 OVC065 M02/M09 A2947 RMK AO2 SLP980 VCSH SE-NW 6//// T10221089 11011 21106 51009 ## 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 20220315000899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220315000899A), Mar 15, 2022: Eurocopter AS 350 BA, Valdez, AK, Substantial damage. On March 15, 2022, [privacy data omitted] as 350 B2 N99676 suffered substantial damage as a result of impacting terrain just prior to landing at the pilots… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104788. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13845555&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22LA023%206120-1%20Valdez_Redacted-Rel%20(1)-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13696481&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC22LA023-Rel.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.