Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Juneau, Alaska 99801
Tuesady, July 19, 1994 16:50 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED HE LANDED ON THE GLACIER WHERE HE NORMALLY LANDED, 'IN THE SAME TRACKS.' WHILE HE WAS LEANING OUT THE DOOR TO CHECK THE POSITION OF THE SKIDS THE HELICOPTER NOSED DOWN AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE SURFACE OF THE ICE WHICH CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO PIVOT 180 DEGREES ABOUT THE NOSE. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING AREA SHOWED A DEEP CREVASSE, IN THE AREA OF THE RIGHT SKID'S LANDING POSITION, THAT WAS FILLED WITH CLEAR WATER. THE TOE OF THE RIGHT SKID HAD NO ICE TO REST ON AND FELL INTO THE CREVASSE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE LANDING TERRAIN. A FACTOR WAS THE CREVASSE IN THE ICE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/19/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1650
Event Time Zone --
Event City JUNEAU
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99801
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1718 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID JNU
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 5
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1562
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 19 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1929
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:39AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39GT
NTSB Number ANC94FA089
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model AS-350
Aircraft Series Identifier AS-350
Aircraft Serial Number 1149
Certified Max Gross Weight 4630
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 13 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 5618
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GENEVA AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2817 100TH STREET SW
Aircraft Owner City EVERETT
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98204
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TEMSCO HELICOPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 5057
Operator City KETCHIKAN
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99901
Operator Code HXSA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code JNU
Departure City
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City HERBERT GLACIER
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --