Aircraft Went Down On Back-To-Back Days, One Person Fatally Injured
The NTSB has released preliminary reports from two accident which occurred in Alaska on May 5 and May 6, one of which resulted in the fatal injury of the pilot.
In the first accident on May 5, 2016, about 1408 Alaska daylight time, an Airbus AS350B2 helicopter, N194EH, collided with snow-covered terrain while on approach to a remote landing site on the Norris Glacier, about 15 miles northeast of Juneau, Alaska. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage.
The helicopter was registered to, and operated by, Era Helicopters LLC, Lake Charles, Louisiana, as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand charter flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated from the operator's base of operations in Juneau, about 1315.
During an interview with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator on May 11, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to provide logistical support to a remote dog sledding camp situated on the Norris Glacier. The pilot said that while on approach to the site, over a large, featureless, and snow-covered ice field, "flat light conditions" made it very difficult to discern the topographical features of the snow-covered ice field below. The helicopter subsequently struck the snow-covered ice field, and rolled over to the right. The pilot characterized the accident as controlled flight into terrain.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and main rotor system.
The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The closest official weather observation station is located at the Juneau International Airport (JNU), about 16 miles west of the accident site. At 1353, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, and stated in part: Wind, 120 degrees (true) at 15 knots; visibility, 8 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few clouds at 1300 feet, broken clouds at 3900 feet; temperature, 45 degrees F; dew point, 41 degrees F; altimeter, 30.21 inHg.
The next day, at about 1855 Alaska daylight time, an Airbus AS350B2 helicopter, N94TH, collided with snow-covered terrain while en route to Skagway, Alaska, about 4 miles southeast of Skagway. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage.
The helicopter was registered to, and operated by, Temsco Helicopters, Inc., Ketchikan, Alaska, as a day, visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand charter flight. Marginal visual meteorological conditions were reported on the Denver Glacier at the time of the accident, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated from the operator's heliport in Skagway, about 1840.
During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 9, the operator reported that the pilot departed from the operator's heliport to drop off one passenger and 12 dogs at a remote dog sledding camp situated on the Denver Glacier.
The pilot dropped off the single passenger and the 12 dogs and departed to return to the heliport with the dog crates onboard the helicopter. The helicopter flew towards the previously used aerial return route to the southwest, and then the helicopter turned and flew to the north. Visibility was reported for the previously used aerial return route as about 1/4 mile, and to the north of the dog sledding camp visibility was reported as about 1/2 mile.
The helicopter was classified as overdue by the operator and a second company helicopter departed from the heliport at Skagway to check on the status of the overdue helicopter. The second helicopter aircrew discovered the overdue helicopter resting on its left side with the tailboom separated in steep mountainous terrain in close proximity to a frozen glacial lake, about 2 miles northeast of the dog sledding camp.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, the tailboom, and the tail rotor system.
On May 8, the NTSB IIC, along with an additional NTSB investigator, an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration's Juneau Flight Standards District Office, and a representative from Temsco Helicopters traveled to the accident scene. The wreckage was recovered and transported to a secure facility for future examination of the airframe and engine.
The closest official weather observation station is located at the Skagway Airport (AGY), about 4 miles to the northwest of the accident site. At 1853, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, and stated in part: Wind 210 degrees (true) at 19 knots, gusting to 28 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few clouds at 8,000 feet; temperature 53 degrees F; dew point 37 degrees F; altimeter 29.81 inHg.
(Source: NTSB)
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