# NTSB ANC25LA092: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, N149TH, Juneau, AK, August 22, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 22, 2025, 12:42 local (20:42 UTC)
- Place: Juneau, AK
- Coordinates: 58.55, -134.54
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.5500&lon=-134.5400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200840
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200840/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200840
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA092

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during takeoff from uneven, snow-covered terrain in flat light conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md)
- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md)
- [Light condition: flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while departing from a remote, snow-covered, glacier camp, which required a hovering backwards departure from a helipad site, the helicopter’s vertical stabilizer struck a snow berm, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail boom assembly. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot noted that flat light conditions made it difficult to discern the height of the helicopter over the uneven, snow-covered terrain immediately surrounding the helipad site.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N149TH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N149TH), registered now, S/N 9071, built 2005 (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-1D1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (registry code 60053, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 9071
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 7666.6
- Engines: Turbomecca Aeriel 1D1 732 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Temsco Helicopters Inc
- Registered owner: Temsco Helicopters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2025, 64.4 hours before
- Departed: JNU, Juneau, AK
- Destination: JNU, Juneau, AK
- Airport: NONE, Glacier
- Equipment: ADS-B, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 21, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,987 total, 373 in this make and model, 1,950 as pilot in command, 197 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: AJN, 12 nm away
- METAR: PAJN 222053Z 00000KT 10SM > BKN075 OVC110 16/11 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP226 T01560106 58004

## 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 20250822010559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250822010559A), Aug 22, 2025: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Juneau, AK, Substantial damage. Due to the nature of the landing spot, the only direction to maneuver the aircraft is backwards in the southern direction, which is a normal operation. He…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200840. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19420333&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA092%206120%20V2_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19418311&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA092%20Photos-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.

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