On July 20, 1994, an Aerospatiale AS-350 (registration N39GT) operated by Temsco Helicopters, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Juneau, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE LANDING TERRAIN. A FACTOR WAS THE CREVASSE IN THE ICE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter nosed over and its main rotor blades struck the ice after the right skid fell into a water-filled crevasse during landing on a glacier.
Incident Details
The pilot reported landing on a glacier in the same tracks used on previous landings. While leaning out the door to check the position of the skids, the helicopter nosed down and the main rotor blades contacted the ice surface. This caused the helicopter to pivot 180 degrees about the nose.
Landing Area Examination
Examination of the landing area revealed a deep crevasse filled with clear water in the area where the right skid was positioned. The toe of the right skid had no ice to rest on and fell into the crevasse.
Outcome
The helicopter sustained damage from the rotor blade strike. No other details about injuries or further damage were provided.