Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate distance from a radio antenna during landing. A factor was the presence of an antenna.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The commercial certificated pilot was transporting a radio techinian to a remote radio repeater site in a helicopter. The area near the repeater site was snow covered. During the landing, one main rotor blade on the accident helicopter struck a radio antenna. The pilot was not aware of any collision with the antenna at the time of the landing, but discovered damage to a main rotor blade later in the day. The damaged rotor blade was removed and a replacement blade installed. The damaged rotor blade was returned to the manufacturer in France for repair.
Source record
Factual narrative
On February 7, 2002, about 1500 Alaska standard time, a skid-equipped Aerospatiale AS350-B helicopter, N6080D, sustained substantial damage during landing at a remote radio repeater site near Girdwood, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules, local area on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The helicopter was operated by Coastal Helicopters Inc., Juneau, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Juneau Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported that one main rotor blade on the accident helicopter struck a radio antenna at the repeater site. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on March 4, 2002, the company president reported the pilot landed the helicopter on snow-covered terrain adjacent to the repeater site to deliver a radio technician. The president said the pilot was not aware of any collision with an antenna at the time of the landing, but discovered damage to a main rotor blade later in the day. The damaged rotor blade was removed and a replacement blade installed. The damaged rotor blade was returned to the manufacturer in France for repair.