- Date
- May 31, 1995, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Skagway, AK
- Injuries
- 7 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N60618Aerospatiale AS-350-B2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19950531014389A
- Case key
- 2655
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 selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors in the accident were the uneven and icy terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The passengers and the pilot boarded the helicopter, which was parked on the ferebee glacier's surface. After everyone was strapped into their seats, the helicopter began sliding forward on the ice and gaining speed. The pilot stated the speed did not exceed a brisk walk. The helicopter turned left as it was sliding and the nose of the helicopter rolled into a depression. The helicopter rolled onto its left side. The engine was not running and the rotors were not turning.
Factual narrative
On May 31, 1995, at 1030 Alaska daylight time, a skid equipped helicopter, Aerospatiale AS-350-B2, N60618, slid into a crevasse/depression on the Ferebee Glacier near Skagway, Alaska. The flightseeing flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, was preparing to depart the Ferebee Glacier and return to Skagway. A company flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and the six passengers were not injured and the helicopter received substantial damage.
According to the operator, the passengers and the pilot had just boarded the helicopter and fastened their seatbelts. The engine was not running and the rotor blades were not turning. The helicopter began to slide forward on the glacier's surface, toward a small depression/crevasse. As it slid forward, it angled to the left and followed a depression. According to the pilot, the speed did not exceed that of a "brisk walk." The left front of the helicopter rolled into a depression and the helicopter rolled onto its left side and stopped sliding.
According to the Director of Operations, the pilot submitted to a toxicological test and the results were negative.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N60618
- Reported as
- Aerospatiale AS-350-B2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- Z565
- Airframe hours
- 1,552
- Engine
- Turbomeca ARRIEL 1D1, 732 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Temsco Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 17, 1995 · 66 hours before
- Departed
- Ferebee Glacier, AK
- Destination
- SGY · 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
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,480 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 42 in the last 90 days · 42 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N60618 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.