Aerospatiale AS350B accident near Glacier, Washington, June 30, 1990
On June 30, 1990 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B (helicopter), registered N101FW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glacier, Washington. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PASSENGER DID NOT FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE HELICOPTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1990 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Glacier, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B · all AS350Bs on the register
- Registration
- N101FW · no longer on the register · serial 1018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT SELECTED A FIELD TO LAND. THE PILOT HAD THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER OPEN HIS DOOR TO CHECK FOR GROUND CLEARANCE AS THE FIELD WAS COVERED WITH 12-15 INCH HIGH GRASS. THE PASSENGER REPORTED ALL WAS CLEAR AND THE HELICOPTER SETTLED TO THE GROUND. AS THE ROTORS WERE STIL WINDING DOWN, THE REAR SEAT LEFT SIDE PASSENGER EXITED THE STILL OPEN DOOR, WALKED TO THE REAR AND UNDER THE TAIL BOOM. THE PASSENGER WAS THEN STRUCK BY THE TAIL ROTOR. THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE PASSENGER HAD EXITED AS THE PILOT HAD NOT GIVEN THE OK TO EXIT TO THE PASSENGERS. THE PILOT FELT THE HELICOPTER SHUTTER AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE ENGINE WAS THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS EXITED THE HELICOPTER. THE PASSENGERRS HAD BEEN BRIEFED AS TO THE AREAS TO AVOID AROUND THE HELICOPTER AND THE PASSENGER THAT EXITED THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN REMINDED AT LEAST THREE TIMES DURING THE DAY TO STAY AWAY FROM THE REAR OF THE HELICOPTER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mt Baker WA at 9:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:50 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.