# NTSB GAA19CA233: Aerospatiale AS350, N288CH, Juneau, AK, April 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 27, 2019, 17:37 local (Apr 28, 2019, 01:37 UTC) - Place: Juneau, AK - Coordinates: 58.491111, -134.455001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.4911&lon=-134.4550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99346 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99346/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99346 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA233 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach to landing on a ridge and his failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain, which resulted in a tail rotor strike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the second landing on a "ridge" and while dropping off passengers for skiing, the helicopter's tail rotor contacted a higher area of snow-covered terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and the tail rotor gear box's mounting surface. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The helicopter pilot reported that, on the second landing on a "ridge/saddle," while dropping off passengers for recreational skiing. The tail rotor contacted a higher spot of snow-covered terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and mounting surface for the tail rotor gearbox. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N288CH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N288CH), registered now, S/N 2383, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350 (B2) - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350-b2-ecureuil) (registry code 8680813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2383 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 10172.3 - Engines: Safran Ariel 1D1 732 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Coastal Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Coastal Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 5, 2019 - Departed: PAJN, Juneau, AK - Destination: Juneau, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 2, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,707 total, 1,384 in this make and model, 3,650 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: PAJN, 9 nm away ## 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 20190427003489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190427003489A), Apr 27, 2019: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, Juneau, AK, Substantial damage. On April 27, 2019, N288CH, an Aerospatiale AS350-B2, was substantially damaged when the tail rotor struck terrain during a landing on top of a mountain… ## Other investigations on N288CH (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA18CA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA289), May 18, 2018: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 Ecureuil (N288CH), Yakutat, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The helicopter’s movement during startup in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the main rotor striking the tailboom. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99346. 995 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 879 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472923&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472924&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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.