Helicopter rollover during landing at glacier camp

Casualties unknown • Skagway, AK, US

A commercial pilot lost visual reference during a landing attempt at a remote glacier camp, resulting in a helicopter rollover and substantial aircraft damage.

What happened

A certificated commercial pilot was attempting to land a helicopter at a remote tourist camp situated at the 4,000-foot level of a remote glacier. The previous day, the area had been covered by approximately 6 inches of light, powdery snow.

During the landing approach, the pilot attempted to hover the aircraft toward the designated landing area. However, blowing snow created whiteout conditions, causing the pilot to become disoriented and lose all visual reference. As the aircraft drifted to the right, the right skid made contact with the snow, causing the helicopter to roll onto its right side. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and drive train components. There were no injuries reported.

Probable cause

The pilot became disoriented due to whiteout conditions caused by blowing snow during the landing attempt.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2001-09-09 Eurocopter AS 350 BA accident near Skagway, AK?

A commercial pilot lost visual reference during a landing attempt at a remote glacier camp, resulting in a helicopter rollover and substantial aircraft damage.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2001-09-09 involved a Eurocopter AS 350 BA, registration N60809, at Skagway, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot became disoriented due to whiteout conditions caused by blowing snow during the landing attempt.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010919X01963. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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