Eurocopter AS350 B2 Crash in Chickaloon, Arkansas
NTSB Report: ANC08FA053 Eurocopter Crash
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Tuesday, April 15, 2008 in Chickaloon, AK
Aircraft: Eurocopter France AS350B2, registration: N213EH
Injuries: 4 Fatal, 1 Serious.
On April 15, 2008, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a Eurocopter AS350B2 helicopter, N213EH, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain, about 34 miles east of Chickaloon, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated by ERA Helicopters LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries, and one passenger received serious injuries. A mixture of visual and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. The helicopter departed Anchorage about 0805, and company flight following procedures were in effect.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 17, a communications technician who got off the helicopter before the accident, said he was dropped off at a remote communications site about 0900, and that the helicopter went to another site with other technicians aboard. He said the helicopter was to return in about four hours. When it did not, he said he contacted his shop.
Following a series of events, a search for the helicopter was initiated. The helicopter’s wreckage was located by searchers on steep, snow-covered terrain, about one mile from the second communication site. NOTE: 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.
