- Date
- March 17, 1999, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place
- Girdwood, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N197EHEurocopter AS-350-B2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 20, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19990317002439A
- Case key
- 45963
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 misjudged flare while landing. Factors associated with the accident were whiteout conditions, and snow-covered 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 commercial pilot reported that the accident helicopter was being utilized to transport skiers to a remote ski area. He added that the day before the accident, the area had received about 6 inches of very light, powder snow. He stated that just before the accident, he transported a group of photographers to the top of the mountain, and he was returning to the base of the mountain to pick up the next group of skiers. He said that as the helicopter hovered toward the landing area, he became disoriented in whiteout conditions, and lost all visual reference due to blowing snow. He said the helicopter drifted to the right, the right skid struck the snow, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and drive train components.
Factual narrative
On March 17, 1999, about 1050 Alaska standard time, a high skid equipped Eurocopter AS-350-B2 helicopter, N197EH, sustained substantial damage during landing, about 12 miles south of Girdwood, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand air taxi flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The helicopter is registered to, and operated by, ERA Aviation, Anchorage, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Girdwood Airport about 0810.
During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on March 17, the pilot reported that the accident helicopter was operating under contract to Chugach Powder Guides to transport skiers to a remote ski area. He added that the day before the accident, the area had received about 6 inches of very light, powder snow. He stated that just before the accident, he transported a group of photographers to the top of the mountain, and he was returning to the base of the mountain to pick up the next group of skiers. He said that as the helicopter hovered toward the landing area, he became disoriented in whiteout conditions, and lost all visual reference due to blowing snow. He said the helicopter drifted to the right, the right skid struck the snow, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and drive train components.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N197EH
- Reported as
- Eurocopter AS-350-B2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2983
- Airframe hours
- 796
- Engine
- Turbomeca ARRIEL 1D1, 732 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Era Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · April 24, 1999 · 21 hours before
- Departed
- AQY · 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
- 51
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 8,520 total · 3,340 in this make and model · 8,125 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
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 N197EH · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.