Airbus A350 accident near Eureka, Alaska, February 18, 2019
On February 18, 2019 at about 11:55 pm local time, a 1993 Airbus A350 (helicopter), registered N350ST, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Eureka, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing on snow-covered mountainous terrain with steep rocks above, which resulted in loose rocks damaging the main rotor blades and the subsequent loss of helicopter controllability.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2019 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Eureka, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A350 B2, built 1993 · all A350s on the register
- Registration
- N350ST · no longer on the register · serial 2789
- 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 reported that, while transporting snow skiers, he landed on a 20º slope below the mountain peak, where he directed the guide and two skiers to unload with the engine running. The pilot saw loose rocks from the peak above fall into the main rotor disk, and after the skiers were clear of the helicopter, he raised the collective and brought the helicopter to a hover. He added that, while hovering, he did not feel any controllability issues, so he repositioned the helicopter up the mountain about 30 ft and "toed in" to unload additional skiers. After the remaining skiers unloaded, the pilot started flying the helicopter down the mountain so that he could shut down the engine and examine the main rotor blades. The pilot added that, about 10 seconds later, the helicopter began to shake violently. He initiated a forced landing, but about 150 ft above the trees, the "flight controls became progressively hard to control," and the helicopter pitched up. Immediately, he lowered the nose and collective, and about 30 ft above the snow-covered ground, the main rotor disk struck trees, and the helicopter subsequently impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, tailboom, and tail rotor blades. The director of operations reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter 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
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (hover)
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (hover)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Decision related to condition
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 4,850 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 16, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,085.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 4,960 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honyewell LTS-101-700D (turboshaft); 7,792 hours total
- Operator: Rota Aviation Consulting Llc
The flight
- Departed from: Sutton AK
- Destination: Sutton AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PAAQ, 57 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 5, 2019. 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 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.