# Accident 20100214027809A: Eurocopter EC135T1, Cave Creek, AZ, February 14, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 14, 2010, 15:00 local time
- Place: Cave Creek, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8481° N, 111.9253° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8481&lon=-111.9253&mi=10
- Aircraft: N127TS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N127TS-2011-08-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T1 (registry code 5620026, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-ec135t1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS-2B1 (registry code 60015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER EC135T1
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIUS
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10FA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100214027809A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 14, 2010, @ APPROX. 1505 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A EUROCOPTER EC135 T1, N127TS, A TWIN ENGINE TURBINE POWERED HELICOPTER, WAS DESTROYED FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL AND IMPACT WITH TERRAIN NEAR CAVE CREEK, ARIZONA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND FOUR PASSENGERS WERE KILLED. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO SERVICES GROUP OF AMERICA INC., OF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER PART 91. THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED A PRIVATE RANCH IN PARKS, ARIZONA, APPROXIMATELY 1445. FINAL DESTINATION WAS TO BE SCOTTSDALE AIRPORT IN ARIZONA. WINESSES REPORTED OBSERVING  THE HELICOPTER PROCEEDING FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 300' AGL. WITNESSES SUBSEQUENTLY REPORTED HEARING TWO TO SEVERAL "POPPING SOUNDS", FOLLOWED BY THE HELICOPTER DOING TWO FLAT SPINS IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. THE HELICOPTER THEN WENT INTO A VERTICAL NOSE DIVE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. A GROUND FIRE ENSUED AND CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT.AN INITIAL ONSITE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST JUST NORTH OF A RIVER WASH ON A RESIDENTIAL GRAVEL ACCESS ROAD ( HIGHLAND AND 73RD ST. ). MAIN ROTOR BLADE DEBRIS WAS OBSERVED OVER AN AREA OF ABOUT ONE -QUARTER MILE FROM THE IMPACT SITE TO THE NORTH AND IN LINE WITH THE HELICOPTER'S OBSERVED FLIGHT PATH. SOME OF THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABLIZER WAS RECOVERED ALONG THIS PATH.

## 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 WPR10FA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA133), Feb 14, 2010: Eurocopter EC135 (N127TS), Cave Creek, AZ, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The sudden and inadvertent lowering of the collective to near the lower stop, followed by a simultaneous movement of the collective back up and the cyclic control to a nearly full-aft position, which…

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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