Eurocopter AS-350B accident near Susanville, California, March 21, 2002
On March 21, 2002 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS-350B (helicopter), registered N1184H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Susanville, California. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance above the water while performing a low altitude flight. Factors relating to the accident were the glassy water condition, and a lack of visual cues concerning perception of altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2002 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Susanville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS-350B · all AS-350Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1184H · no longer on the register · serial 1124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter collided with the surface of a glassy smooth lake while in cruise flight at low altitude. The purpose of the flight was to reposition the helicopter to the operator's base, after a patient delivery to a regional medical center. The approximate 10-miles in diameter lake is a shallow non-perennial body of water located about 11 miles east of the operators base. The wreckage was located about 2.5 miles from the east shore line and about 3.5 miles from the west shore. The lake is on a normal routing from the hospital to the operator's base. The flight nurse said he was sitting directly behind the pilot in a forward facing seat. He said that usually they crossed the lake about 500 feet above the surface, but this time they were much lower. He estimated that they had descended to within 20 to 50 feet of the lake surface, and, as they flew further out over the water they seemed to get lower and lower. He looked over the pilot's shoulder, and to the right, and noted how glassy smooth the water was. He stated that it was like a mirror and reflected the clouds and the sky perfectly, and was "kind of mesmerizing and disorienting" to see clouds both above and below with no distinct horizon. Just before they hit the water the pilot said on the intercom, "Boy, it's disorienting when the lake is this smooth." The nurse looked out the right side window at the distant shoreline and thought to himself that the flight seemed very, very low. The helicopter then hit the water. The flight nurse and paramedic medical crew members stated that there were no apparent mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter prior to the collision with the lake surface. Examination of the extensively fragmented helicopter disclosed that all control system torque and push/pull tubes, and their associated rod end fittings, were accounted for. Scoring and other rotational evidence was noted on all drive system components.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,900 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 7,700 as pilot in command; 3,800 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,139 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 5, 2002; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,520 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Ariel 1B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Reno NV at 9:00 pm
- Destination: SVE Susanville CA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from RNO, 64 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.