Eurocopter AS350BA accident near Crater Lake, OR
On September 23, 1995, an Eurocopter AS350BA (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Crater Lake, OR. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 23, 1995
- Place
- Crater Lake, OR
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS350BA · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.919°N, 122.120°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04610
NTSB summary
On September 23, 1995, at 0925 Pacific daylight time, N6099Z, a Eurocopter AS350BA, operated by the manufacturer, collided with water while descending over Crater Lake, Oregon, and was destroyed. The airline transport helicopter demonstration pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The business flight departed from Aurora, Oregon, about 0830 and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. One day prior to the accident, on September 22, 1995, the pilot departed from Seattle, Washington, en route to Aurora. According to a line service person and local authorities, the pilot was the sole occupant of the helicopter during this flight, and he stayed overnight in Aurora to visit friends before flying to Las Vegas, Nevada, on the following day. The purpose of the flight to Las Vegas was to display the helicopter at a business aviation convention. According to a line service person at the Aurora Airport, the helicopter arrived about 1400 and landed near a fuel truck. The line service person fueled the aircraft with 76 gallons of jet fuel and spoke briefly to the pilot. The line service person stated that the pilot was alone and "seemed fine." The pilot made a telephone call and was picked up by an unidentified man. The next morning, the day of the accident, the pilot returned to the airport between 0800 and 0900. The line service person stated that the pilot "seemed fine" and was accompanied by two other unidentified men. Although the line service person did not see the helicopter depart, he assumed that one of
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE WATER, WHILE PERFORMING LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GLASSY WATER CONDITION, AND LACK OF VISUAL CUES CONCERNING PERCEPTION OF ALTITUDE.
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Browse: Oregon · Eurocopter aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
