# Accident 20111004029759A: Eurocopter EC120B, San Juan, TX, October 4, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 4, 2011, 13:20 local time
- Place: San Juan, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.1722° N, 98.2364° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1722&lon=-98.2364&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3925A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3925A-2016-11-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter EC120B (registry code 8680987, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec120b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS-2F (registry code 60010, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-2f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER EC120B
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIUS 2F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,517 total, 403 in this make and model, 101 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12TA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12TA004) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111004029759A

## Narrative

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

ON OCT. 4, 2011, A CUSTOMS/BORDER PATROL HELICOPTER (EC-120) WAS LANDING ONTO AN OPEN FIELD AND DID A RUN-ON TYPE LANDING. AS THE HELICOPTER IS SKIDDING ALONG, APPROX. 25 FEET, THE LEFT SKID DUG IN AND THEN THE WIRE STRIKE DUG INTO THE GROUND SENDING THE HELICOPTER INTO A NOSE OVER ATTITUDE. THE ROTOR BLADES BEGAN TO HIT THE GROUND CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TAIL TO GO TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT STABILIZER STRUCK THE GROUND SNAPPING OFF THE TAIL'S ROTOR SECTION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POST FIRE.

## 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 CEN12TA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12TA004), Oct 4, 2011: Eurocopter EC120B (N3925A), McAllen, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the collective while landing, which resulted in an unrecoverable forward pitching moment. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision not to go-around.

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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