Airbus Helicopters INC AS350B3 accident near Palmer, Alaska, December 26, 2023
On December 26, 2023 at about 7:49 pm local time, a 2022 Airbus Helicopters INC AS350B3, registered N21FY, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Palmer, Alaska. It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 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 clearance from snow-covered terrain during the landing approach in flat light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2023 · about 7:49 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters INC AS350B3, built 2022
- Registration
- N21FY · registry record · serial 9116
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while on approach to land at a remote, snow-covered glacial site, with flat light conditions present, he lost “positive” visual reference, but believed he was in a stable hover. Subsequently, the left landing gear skid contacted the snow-covered terrain, and the helicopter entered a dynamic rollover to the left, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and powertrain system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Dynamic rollover during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,785 hours in all; 308 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,699 as pilot in command; 1,265 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 13, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,184.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 5,225 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Safran ARRIEL 2D (turboshaft); 1,184 hours total
- Operator: Alpha Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: O3AN Palmer AK at 7:40 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 1°F (-17°C), dew point -6°F (-21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.53 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from PAAQ, 26 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAAQ 261953Z 33008KT 10SM CLR M17/M21 A2953 RMK AO2 SLP006 T11671206
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 2024. 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 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 2 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.