N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tahoma, California 96142
Friday, August 1, 2014 13:00 PDT

On August 1, 2014, about 1300 Pacific daylight time, an S.N.I.A.S. (Airbus Helicopters) AS350B, N3597T, collided with terrain on the shoreline of Buck Island Lake, near Tahoma, California. The helicopter was registered to, and operated by, Heli-Flite Inc. (dba Aris Helicopters), under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. The airline transport pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries; the remaining two passengers were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The local flight departed from a helispot at Loon Lake, California, about 1255, with a planned destination of Buck Island Lake. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan had been filed. The helicopter was being utilized for transportation of both supplies and passengers (event organizers) for the Jeep and Jeepers Jamboree off-road events. The events took place along the Rubicon Trail during two adjoining weekends. The helicopter, pilot, and a fuel truck were provided by Heli-Flite, and were all utilized at the discretion of the event organizers. The helicopter and pilot had flown for the event the weekend prior. During that period multiple uneventful missions were completed transporting crew, as well as equipment and supplies under external load utilizing the helicopter's long-line. On the morning of the accident the pilot departed from the helicopter's temporary base in Placerville, California, and performed multiple crew repositioning flights to the Buck Island Lake area, as well transporting external loads from Loon Lake to Rubicon Springs. For the accident flight he departed from Loon Lake with three passengers on board, with the intention of picking up a fourth at Buck Island Lake. The inbound flight lasted about 3 minutes and was uneventful. The passenger being picked up observed the helicopter approach the landing spot over the lake from the south. The helicopter landed, and the passenger boarded. Once secure he gave the pilot the signal to depart, and the helicopter lifted into a hover about 20-30 feet off the ground. The passengers all recounted similar observations, stating that having attained a hover, the helicopter began a 180-degree turn to the south, and then proceeded to move forward. Rather than climb, the helicopter descended while still maintaining forward movement, crashing into trees and rocks south of the takeoff point. The accident site was located on the northwest shore of the lake, which was located within the confines of the Eldorado National Forest, 8 miles southwest of Tahoma. The primary wreckage consisted of the fuselage and tailboom, and was located on the lakeshore adjacent to the intersection of two concrete dam walls, at an elevation of 6,445 feet. Fragments of the main rotor blades were strewn around the site and into the adjoining lake. The farthest located component was a main rotor blade tip, which came to rest about 350 feet northeast. The remaining two blade tips were located in the immediate vicinity of the fuselage. All primary airframe components were accounted for at the accident site. The takeoff point was located on a flat rock slab in between the two dam walls. The main wreckage was located about 170 feet south, and 10 feet below the takeoff point. A series of cut trees were in line with the departure path, and all were cut at a height approximately level with the takeoff point.

Not Yet Reported