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| Date: | Tuesday 26 December 2023 |
| Time: | 10:49 |
| Type: |  Airbus Helicopters H125 |
| Owner/operator: | H125 Aviation LLC opb Alpha Aviation LLC |
| Registration: | N21FY |
| MSN: | 9116 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2021 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Palmer, AK -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Alaska Glacier Lodge, AK (03AN) |
| Alaska Glacier Lodge, AK (03AN) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot stated that while on approach to land at a remote, snow-covered glacial site, with flat light conditions present, he lost “positive” visual reference, but believed he was in a stable hover. Subsequently, the left landing gear skid contacted the snow-covered terrain, and the helicopter entered a dynamic rollover to the left, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and powertrain system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain during the landing approach in flat light conditions.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/aviation/2023/12/27/2-injured-after-helicopter-rolls-near-knik-glacier/
https://youtu.be/qjlIiWsP2pY
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193569
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N21FY
https://skyvector.com/airport/03AN/Alaska-Glacier-Lodge-Heliport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knik_Glacier
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Media:
26 Dec 2023 AS350B3 N21FY was on approach to a snow-covered site in flat light conditions. The left skid contacted the snow-covered terrain, and the helicopter entered a dynamic rollover. #helicopter #flightsafety #aviationsafety https://t.co/3H5KVAmhnx pic.twitter.com/WqadxmqcIS
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) August 31, 2024
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Dec-2023 15:08 | harro | Added |
| 27-Dec-2023 15:14 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, ] |
| 27-Dec-2023 16:01 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, ] |
| 28-Dec-2023 15:12 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
| 28-Dec-2023 15:14 | Aerossurance | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 09-Jan-2024 18:06 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 31-Aug-2024 15:34 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 01-Sep-2024 20:17 | Captain Adam | Updated [Operator, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 01-Sep-2024 20:18 | Captain Adam | Updated [Photo, ] |
| 04-Sep-2024 09:03 | akwtchr | Updated [Source, Embed code, ] |
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