Eurocopter AS-350B accident near Susanville, CA
On March 21, 2002, an Eurocopter AS-350B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Susanville, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 21, 2002
- Place
- Susanville, CA
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS-350B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.377°N, 120.573°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020322X00384
Official records · LAX02FA114
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 21, 2002, about 1335 Pacific standard time, an Eurocopter AS-350B, N1184H, collided with the surface of Honey Lake, about 11 miles east of Susanville, California. The positioning flight was operated by Mountain Life Flight, Susanville, under 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot received fatal injuries and the two medical crew members were seriously injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Washoe Medical Center about 1300, after dropping off a patient, and was returning to the operator's base at Susanville. At 1334, the pilot contacted the company dispatcher by radio and estimated the flight's time of arrival as 10 minutes. No further transmissions were received from the pilot. The flight nurse and paramedic medical crew members reported that the flight back to Susanville seemed routine. The flight nurse said he was sitting directly behind the pilot in a forward facing seat, and was occupied with making notes on the medical records for the patient transport and did not pay much attention to the outside scenery until they were over Honey Lake. He noted that usually they crossed the lake about 500 feet above the surface, but this time they were much lower. He estimated that they had descended to within 20 to 50 feet of the lake surface, and as they flew further out over the water, they seemed to get lower and lower. He looked over the pilot's shoulder, and to the right, and noted how glassy smooth the water was. He stated tha
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance above the water while performing a low altitude flight. Factors relating to the accident were the glassy water condition, and a lack of visual cues concerning perception of altitude.
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Browse: California · 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.
