20060112002069A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Snias AS350B2 · Eagle Pass, TX · January 12, 2006

Date: January 12, 2006 · 17:30 local
Place: Eagle Pass, TX
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N840BP
NTSB investigation: NTSBDFW06TA054
Reported as: Snias AS350B2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 300 total

N840BPRegistration cancelled May 16, 2008 · Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUILS/N 2035 · Built 1987 Airframe modelAerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL Engine modelTurbomeca ARRIEL-1D1Turbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On Wednesday January 12, 2006 at approximately 17:30 CST, N840BP, an aerospatiale AS350, was conducting surveillance operations along the rio grande river, approximately 1/4 mile west of Eagle Pass, Texas. The helicopter struck a power line causing loss of the tail rotor. Impact was immediate after loss of control. Helicopter landed in the river bed. Pilot in command escaped with minor injuries. No other passengers were on board.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 12, 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 17:30 CST, N840BP, AN AEROSPATIALE AS350, WAS CONDUCTING SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS ALONG THE RIO GRANDE RIVER, APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE WEST OF EAGLE PASS, TEXAS. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A POWER LINE CAUSING LOSS OF THE TAIL ROTOR. IMPACT WAS IMMEDIATE AFTER LOSS OF CONTROL. HELICOPTER LANDED IN THE RIVER BED. PILOT IN COMMAND ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES. NO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE ON BOARD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DFW06TA054Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportEagle Pass, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the unmarked transmission lines. A factor was the pilot's diverted attention while monitoring ground activity.Jan 12, 2006 · Substantial damage