Accident · 2021-03-27
What the record says
- Event date
- 2021-03-27
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- Fatal injury
- Aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters AS350-B3 (N351SH)
- Operating rule
- Part 135
- Operator
- SOLOY HELICOPTERS LLC Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- Soloy Helicopters LLC
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to adequately respond to an encounter with whiteout conditions, which resulted in the helicopter’s collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the (1) operator’s inadequate pilot training program and pilot competency checks, which failed to evaluate pilot skill during an encounter with inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions, and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration principal operations inspector’s insufficient oversight of the operator, including their approval of the operator’s pilot training program without ensuring that it met requirements. Contributing to the severity of the surviving passenger’s injuries was the delayed notification of search and rescue organizations.
Source: NTSB case WPR21FA143Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot pilot flying | Commercial | Helicopter | 33 | Class 1 (2021-02-10) | 3,286.4 total · 1,505.8 in this make/model · 3,230.1 as PIC · 78.2 last 90 days |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.