This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
National Transportation Safety Board
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report
Location: Gustavus, AK Accident Number: CEN18FA391
Date & Time: 09/28/2018, 1055 AKD Registration: N907PL
Aircraft: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS INC AS350 Injuries: 3 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On September 28, 2018, about 1055 Alaska daylight time, an Airbus Helicopters AS350-B3e, impacted shallow water on a beach in Glacier Bay National Park about 60 miles northwest of Gustavus, Alaska. The co-pilot was fatally injured, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and the pilot and one other passenger are missing. The helicopter was registered to Chinilna Equipment LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed from the Juneau International Airport (JNU) Juneau, Alaska, and was en route to Yakutat Airport (YAK), Yakutat, Alaska.
According to the family members, the purpose of the trip was to deliver the helicopter from the Airbus Helicopters factory in Grand Prairie, TX, to Anchorage, AK. The left seat pilot was onboard for insurance coverage purposes. The owner/pilot planned to drop off the left seat pilot in Wasilla, AK, then proceed to Anchorage.
The accident flight departed Juneau and proceeded west over the mountains 3,000 to 4,000 ft above ground level (agl) and then north along the coast line about 500 to 700 ft agl. The last recorded GPS point was 8.5 nautical miles (nm) southeast of the accident site and 500 ft agl while flying above the beach.
In a post-accident interview, the surviving passenger stated that the pilot "reached down and rolled the throttle off." He added that the pilot left the collective up and the helicopter entered a free fall from about 500 ft agl, then about 30 ft agl he increased the throttle again. He felt helicopter impact the water and noticed water splash in the cabin, then went unconscious.
The helicopter impacted the water and came to rest partially embedded in the sand (figure 1). The investigative team arrived at the accident site about 1100 on September 30, 2018, to photo document the accident site and locate the Appareo Vision 1000 image recording device, the engine data recorder, and digital engine control unit; they were all recovered and transported to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, DC, for examination and download.
The tailboom, tail rotor assembly, and most of the instrument panel were not found. A
significant amount of wreckage had washed ashore and was found on the beach south of the main wreckage. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for a thorough post-accident examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS INC Registration: N907PL
Model/Series: AS350 B3 Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file Operating Certificate(s)
Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: CSP, 89 ft msl Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 39 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Juneau, AK (JNU) Destination: Yakutat, AK (YAK)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 Fatal, 1 Serious Latitude, Longitude: 58.595278, -137.594444 (est)
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Joshua D Lindberg
Additional Participating Persons: Daniel Figueroa; Federal Aviation Administration; Juneau, AK
Stéphane Veillon; Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses; Le Bourget, FN
Seth Buttner; Airbus Helicopters; Grand Prairie, TX
Bryan Larimore; Safran Helicopter Engines; Grand Prairie, TX
Note: The NTSB traveled to the scene of this accident.