# Accident 20120930025869A: Agusta Spa A109E, Eastland, TX, September 30, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2012, 09:36 local time
- Place: Eastland, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: NXTA
- Location: 32.3792° N, 94.5799° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3792&lon=-94.5799&mi=10
- Aircraft: N144CF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N144CF-2014-07-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Agusta A109E (registry code 0260101, https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-a109e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C (registry code 52160, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw206c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AGUSTA SPA A109E
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PW206C
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12FA670](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA670) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120930025869A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 09:36 CDT, N144CF AN AUGUSTA A109E HELICOPTER, OPERATED BY CAREFLITE WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT  IMPACTED TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES SOUTH EAST OF EASTLAND AIRPORT (ETN) LOCATED IN EASTLAND, TEXAS. THE HELICOPTER WAS ENROUTE PERFORMING AIR MEDICAL POSITIONING FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, FROM GRANBURY REGIONAL AIRPORT (GDJ).  THE FLIGHT WAS INTENDED TO TRANSPORT A PATIENT FROM HIS RESIDENCE IN EASTLAND, TEXAS.  N114CF IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY QUARTER OF A MILE EAST AT THE INTERSECTION OF TEXAS STATE HIGHWAY 6 AND COUNTY ROAD 309.  THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT PATH INDICATED A HEADING OF 145 DEGREES.  THE HELICOPTER TAIL ASSEMBLY IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THEN SLID APPROXIMATELY 450 FEET.  WHEN ABRUPTLY TURNED 68 DEGREES AND FLIP ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND CAME TO REST 45 FEET AT A HEADING OF 77 DEGREES.  ALL THREE CAREFLITE PERSONNEL SUFFERED MINOR TO SERIOUS INJURIES.

## 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 CEN12FA670](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA670), Sep 30, 2012: Agusta A109E (N144CF), Eastland, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of helicopter control after an in-flight upset, which occurred when the pilot selected the autopilot’s altitude hold mode; the reason for the reported in-flight control anomaly could not be…

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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