Eurocopter France AS-350-B2 accident near Denali Park, Alaska, June 26, 2002
On June 26, 2002 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Eurocopter France AS-350-B2 (helicopter), registered N197EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denali Park, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff, which resulted in dynamic rollover of the helicopter. A contributing factor was the frozen terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2002 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Denali Park, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter France AS-350-B2 · all AS-350-B2s on the register
- Registration
- N197EH · no longer on the register · serial 2983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the accident helicopter reported that he was attempting to takeoff from a glacier. During takeoff, he discovered the right landing gear skid was frozen to the surface of the glacier, and he decreased the collective control input. As he reduced the collective control input, the right skid broke free from the ice. He said that due to left cyclic input, when the right skid broke free from the ice, a left rolling moment was induced. The helicopter's main rotor blades subsequently contacted the surface of the glacier, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,039 hours in all; 393 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 3,937 as pilot in command; 1,995 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 10, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 911 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 20, 2002; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Denali Park AK at 2:15 pm
- Destination: Denali Park AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N197EH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.