Heliski Flat Light Flight into Terrain (Alpine Air Alaska, AS350D, N99676)
On 15 March 2022, Airbus AS350D N99676 of Alpine Air Alaska was damaged near Valdez. Alaska when landing on a glacier during a heliski operation. The pilot, the sole occupant, suffered minor injuries.
The US National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) explain in their safety investigation report, issued on 5 July 2022, that the pilot had 9779 hours of flight experience and stated…
…that while on approach….to pick up a group of skiers, flat light conditions made it difficult to discern topographical features on the snow-covered, featureless, glacial terrain.
The pilot said that during the approach, he inadvertently allowed the helicopter to descend below his intended approach path…
The helicopter touched down c 200m short of his intended landing site.
The helicopter subsequently rolled to the left and the main rotor blades struck the snow-covered terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, tail boom, and fuselage.
NTSB Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper approach path in flat light conditions, which resulted in landing short of the intended landing spot and impact with terrain.
Safety Resources
The European Safety Promotion Network Rotorcraft (ESPN-R) has a helicopter safety discussion group on LinkedIn. You may also find these Aerossurance articles of interest:
- Canadian Flat Light CFIT – sadly this accident was fatal
- Antarctic Helicopter Accidents
- Alaskan AS350 CFIT With Unrestrained Cargo in Cabin
- Low Viz Helicopter CFIT Accident, Alaska
- Austrian Police EC135P2+ Impacted Glassy Lake
- Fish Spotting Helicopter Strikes Glassy Sea
- EC135P2 Spatial Disorientation Accident
- HEMS EC135T1 CFIT During Mountain Take Off in Poor Visibility
- A Short Flight to Disaster: A109 Mountain CFIT in Marginal Weather
- HEMS Black Hole Accident: “Organisational, Regulatory and Oversight Deficiencies”
- Taiwan NASC UH-60M Night Medevac Helicopter Take Off Accident
- RCMP AS350B3 Left Uncovered During Snowfall Fatally Loses Power on Take Off
- EC130B4 Destroyed After Ice Ingestion – Engine Intake Left Uncovered
- UPDATE 7 January 2023: Blinded by Light, Spanish Customs AS365 Crashed During Night-time Hot Pursuit
UPDATE 15 February 2024: Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published their safety investigation report into the crash of Airbus AS350B2 C-FYDA of Great Slave Helicopters on Griffith Island, Nunavut on 21 April 2021. Flat light was a factor.
EHEST Leaflet HE 13 Weather Threat For VMC Flights:
Recent Comments