# Accident 20001116023569A: Snias AS350B2, Houston, TX, November 16, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 16, 2000, 21:57 local time
- Place: Houston, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.7295° N, 95.4208° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7295&lon=-95.4208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N126TV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N126TV-2001-05-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 ECUREUIL (registry code 8680951, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2-ecureuil) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1D1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 130 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW01FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01FA021) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001116023569A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 16, 2000, APPROX. 2155 CST, A EUROCOPTER AS350B2, N126TV, WAS DESTROYED FOLLOWING IMPACT WITH WIRES, A PHONE POLE AND TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE RIVER OAKS AREA OF HOUSTON, TX. THE FOX NEWS HELICOPTER WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY HELICOPTER SERVICES, INC. BASED AT KDWH AIRPORT. THE COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENT HELICOPTER RATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. NIGHT IMC CONDITION PREVAILED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. WX ESTIMATED TO BE 300 FT OVERCAST IN RAIN AND MIST. N126TV IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION ON EARL STREET, ADJACENT TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF 2705 BAMMEL. THE PILOT WAS FOUND LAYING ON HIS STOMACH ON EARL STREET, 5 TO 7 FEET INFRONT OF N126TV. (.4) THE TURBINE POWERED HELICOPTER WAS ON A 29 NAUTICAL MILE NIGHT FLIGHT OVER A CITY. TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, LOCATED ABOUT TWO BLOCKS NORTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, REPORTED OBSERVING THE HELICOPTER "FLYING AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE" NORTHBOUND. THE OFFICERS WALKED AROUND THE BUILDING TO A PARKING LOT WHERE THEY MET ANOTHER OFFICER. ALL THREE OFFICERS HEARD THE HELICOPTER FLY OVER THE PARKING LOT IN A SOUTHWEST DIRECTION. THE OFFICERS LOOK                                                  ED FOR THE HELICOPTER, BUT THEY COULD NOT SEE IT DUE TO THE POOR VISIBILITY. WHEN THE HELICOPTER CAME INTO VIEW, IT WAS "BANKED TO THE RIGHT" TRAVELING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED IN A DOWNWARD DIRECTION, AND THEN A "HUGE FIREBALL" WAS OBSERVED. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK WIRES, A POWER POLE AND AN ABOVE GROUND GAS METER. AN ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMER EXPLODED, AND THE HELICOPTER WAS CONSUMED BY THE ENSUING FIRE. THE DESTINATION AIRPORT HAD IFR WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE. WITNESSES ESTIMATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS AN OVERCAST CEILING OF ABOUT 300-400 FEET. NO RECORD WAS FOUND OF ANY PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING OBTAINED BY THE PILOT. NO PRE-IMPACT ANOMALIES WERE OBSERVED DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW01FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01FA021), Nov 17, 2000: Eurocopter AS350B2 (N126TV), Houston, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while maneuvering, which resulted in an in-flight collision with objects. Contributing factors were the dark night and low ceilings.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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