# Accident 20060112002069A: Snias AS350B2, Eagle Pass, TX, January 12, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 12, 2006, 17:30 local time
- Place: Eagle Pass, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.7178° N, 100.6064° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7178&lon=-100.6064&mi=10
- Aircraft: N840BP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N840BP-2008-05-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL (registry code 8680813, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350-b2-ecureuil) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1 (registry code 60053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW06TA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06TA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060112002069A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 DFW06TA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06TA054), Jan 12, 2006: Aerospatiale AS350-B2 (N840BP), Eagle Pass, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the unmarked transmission lines. A factor was the pilot's diverted attention while monitoring ground activity.

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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