# Accident 20080510838959A: Urocop EC135T2+, La Crosse, WI, May 10, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 10, 2008, 22:37 local time
- Place: La Crosse, WI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: BAQA
- Location: 43.8419° N, 91.1656° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8419&lon=-91.1656&mi=10
- Aircraft: N135UW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N135UW-2008-10-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 T2+ (registry code 5620031, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-ec-135-t2-plus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS-2B2 (registry code 60012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-2b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: UROCOP EC135T2+
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIUS2B2
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 3,966 total, 70 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI08FA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08FA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080510838959A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N135UW DEPARTED ON A VFT FLIGHT FORM THE LA CROSSE WISCONSIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS AND IMPACTED A WOODED RIDGE APPROXIMATELY 4 1/2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES.  THIS REPORT WILL BE UPDATED AFTER THE ENGINE EXAMINATION SCHEDULED FOR JULY 2008 HAD CONCLUDED AND NON-VOLATILE DATA HAS BEEN DOWNLOADED FROM CERTAIN AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS.

## 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 CHI08FA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08FA128), May 11, 2008: Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 T2+ (N135UW), La Crosse, WI, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees along the top of a ridgeline due to inadequate preflight planning, insufficient altitude, and the lack of a helicopter terrain awareness and…

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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