Eurocopter AS350 accident near Ninilchik, Alaska, August 25, 2020
On August 25, 2020 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1993 Eurocopter AS350 (helicopter), registered N160SH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Ninilchik, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2020 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ninilchik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS350 B2, built 1993 · all AS350s on the register
- Registration
- N160SH · no longer on the register · serial 2739
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was transporting workers to and from various mining sites about 3 miles from the main camp. The pilot flew to a high mountainside helipad, which was located about 2,750 ft mean-sea-level (msl) cut into a rocky steep slope and disembarked 2 passengers. He flew the helicopter to a nearby site and waited a short time for the off going workers to be ready for pick up. He departed and made another approach to the helipad. The pilot stated that when the helicopter was about 25 ft from the landing site, at very slow forward airspeed, the engine "flamed out" and the helicopter yawed right. The pilot continued the right turn, lowered the collective and attempted to autorotate to a level area about 600 ft below the helipad. When the pilot realized that the helicopter could not make the intended site, he slowed down by applying some aft cyclic and increasing collective to cushion the touchdown. The helicopter landed on the skids facing down the mountain and continued to slide. The left skid impacted a rock and the helicopter rolled over and continued down the mountain, resulting in the tail boom separating. The helicopter came to rest on a drill pad under construction about 200 ft below the helipad. The tail section, fuselage and main rotor blades sustained substantial damage. The examination of the airframe did not reveal any discrepancies. The engine was placed on an engine test cell and two tests were run for a total of 2 hours 23 minutes with 9 starts. The engine demonstrated normal operation during testing. No abnormal engine operation, uncommanded shutdown, or loss of power control was observed.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,432 hours in all; 755 in this make and model; 166 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 15,320 as pilot in command; 130 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 28, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,203 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 15, 2020; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell Aerospace LTS101-700D2 (turboshaft); 10,051 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Ninilchik AK at 2:55 pm
- Destination: PVT Ninilchik AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PAHO, 53 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on September 29, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Fuel Supply System | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Weight and Balance | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Performance Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Investigative Photographs (Provided by Operator) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Honeywell Engine Examination and Test Cell Run | PDF, 31 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.