S.N.I.A.S. AS350B accident near Tahoma, California, August 1, 2014
On August 1, 2014 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1979 S.N.I.A.S. AS350B (helicopter), registered N3597T, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Tahoma, California (Lakeshore airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of helicopter control due to settling with power while maneuvering for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2014 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tahoma, California · Lakeshore · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- S.N.I.A.S. AS350B, built 1979
- Registration
- N3597T · no longer on the register · serial 1126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was being used to transport passengers and equipment for an off-road automobile event in a remote mountainous area. The airline transport pilot picked up two passengers, and the subsequent 3-minute-long inbound flight and landing into the wind at the helispot were uneventful. The pilot reported that, after a third passenger boarded, he initiated a vertical climb to clear trees. He reported that he expected and felt a "bump" as the helicopter encountered a headwind above the trees, and he then began to initiate a left turn for a downwind departure. As the turn progressed, the helicopter rapidly descended back to the ground, and, unable to maintain altitude, the pilot attempted to ditch the helicopter into trees and down-sloping terrain. The helicopter struck a rock slab and rolled onto its side, during which time both the pilot and a passenger sustained serious injuries. Postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation, and both the pilot and operator reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The pilot attributed the loss of lift to a wind gust; however, the closest weather reporting station, about 14 miles away, reported light wind. Further, a weather simulation was performed to estimate wind and turbulence conditions in the area of the accident. The results revealed a low potential for turbulence with wind, which closely matched the conditions reported by the weather station, at the time and location of the accident. The fuel load could not be definitely established; however, given the helicopter's estimated gross weight, it was likely operating very close to or slightly above its hovering ceiling. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot attempted to hover the helicopter out of ground effect at an altitude above its hovering ceiling, which resulted in it settling with power.
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
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,541.3 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 30, 2014; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1B (turboshaft); 4,728 hours total
- Operator: Heli-Flite INC
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Tahoma CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: N/A Tahoma CA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KTVL, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.