Eurocopter AS 350 accident near Fort Greely, Alaska, September 6, 2020
On September 6, 2020 at about 5:05 pm local time, a 2000 Eurocopter AS 350 (helicopter), registered N354PA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Fort Greely, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
Failure of the door lock due to interference between the door and a cargo box.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2020 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Greely, 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 B3, built 2000 · all AS 350s on the register
- Registration
- N354PA · registry record · serial 3330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, at about 700 ft above ground level and 110 kts, a “sudden loud bang” and associated left yaw was experienced as the sliding left side cabin door vacated the helicopter from the closed position. The door impacted a main rotor blade during the separation sequence, which resulted in substantial damage. Subsequently an emergency landing was made to a nearby grass area with no further incident. Airbus Helicopters has two Alert Service Bulletins (ASB) out for the cabin doors on the AS350-B3. The operator reported that the ASBs from the helicopter manufacturer regarding the cabin doors had not been complied with prior to the accident. During a post-accident examination, the FAA inspector reported that he was not able to find any definitive reason for the departure of the door. He added that the door rollers were displaced and were not recovered, and a partial slide piece on the lower rail was not recovered either. Since the door rollers were not recovered, they were not able to be examined, and therefor their condition and function could not be tested. Airbus Helicopters has two Alert Service Bulletins (ASB) published in response to door seperations that occurred as a result of door roller failures on AS350-B3 helicopters. The operator reported that these ASBs had not been complied with prior to the accident. Because the affected components were not recovered, the investigation could not determine if compliance with these ASBs could have prevented the accident. Airbus noted that the damage was consistent with the door lock not being effective due to the presence of a cargo box that was stored in the cabin that interfered with the door, which resulted in the door opening and separating in flight due to the interference load introduced by the cargo box in the cabin. Although some affected components were not recovered and examined, the accident is consistent with the door lock failing inflight, likely due to interference between the door and the cargo box.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Passenger/crew doors › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,437 hours in all; 3,350 in this make and model; 222 in the last 90 days; 114 in the last 30 days; 5,276 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 7, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,111 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 2B (turboshaft); 13,451 hours total
- Operator: Pathfinder Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 72AK Delta Junction AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from PABI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 14, 2022. 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 | FAA Roc | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Airbus Roc | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Company Emails | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Safety Information Notice | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Alert Service Bulletin (53) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Alert Service Bulletin (54) | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 5 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.