Eurocopter AS 350 BA accident near Juneau, Alaska, September 26, 2011
On September 26, 2011 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 BA (helicopter), registered N230CH, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Juneau, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Upslope wind conditions while the helicopter was operating at ground idle, which resulted in the helicopter rollover. Contributing to the accident was the lack of manufacturer data regarding the effect of upslope wind conditions on helicopter ground idle operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2011 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Juneau, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 BA · all AS 350 BAs on the register
- Registration
- N230CH · no longer on the register · serial 2734
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter pilot was landing at a remote off-airport site, located on an outcrop on the side of a steep slope. The pilot reported that after landing, he initiated the shutdown checklist, including a 2-minute cool down. About 1.5 minutes later, the pilot noticed a strong upslope wind, and the helicopter turned to the right. The pilot attempted to offset the turn with left pedal, but at low rpm, the pedal had no effect. The helicopter lifted off the ground about 3 to 5 feet in a slightly nose-high attitude and simultaneously rolled to the left. The pilot attempted to offset the roll with right cyclic input with no effect. The helicopter continued to lift and roll to the left until the main rotor blades impacted the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The National Weather Service forecast included surface wind of 35 to 45 knots. Upslope wind conditions developed due to the terrain features and created a situation that the pilot was unable to overcome when the helicopter was at ground idle. Although the pilot checked current and forecast weather before departure, he was unaware that the forecast wind would have such an effect because of a lack of manufacturer data regarding the effect of upslope wind on an idle helicopter.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during standing (engine(s) operating)
- Dynamic rollover during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Updraft › Contributed to outcome
- factor Organizational issues › Development › Selection/certification/testin › Document/info verification › Manufacturer
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,428 hours in all; 2,252 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 3,378 as pilot in command; 450 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 23, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,904 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 10, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell LTS101-600A3A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Coastal Helicopters INC
The flight
- Departed from: PAJN Juneau AK at 3:00 pm
- Destination: Juneau AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Observation at 1:53 pm from PAJN, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
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.