# Accident 20140110001459A: American Eurocopter Corp AS350B3, Falfurrias, TX, January 10, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 10, 2014, 08:10 local time
- Place: Falfurrias, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.0369° N, 98.1686° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0369&lon=-98.1686&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3948A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3948A-2023-03-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Eurocopter AS350B3 (registry code 1145004, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-eurocopter-as350b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1 (registry code 60056, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,593 total, 111 in this make and model, 99 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14GA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14GA109) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140110001459A

## Narrative

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

ON JAN. 10, 2014, N3948A, A USCBP AS350-B3 EUROCOPTER, CRASHED INTO TREES WHILE IN PURSUIT OF ILLEGALS. THE RANCH FOREMAN WAS A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT. HE STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER HAD JUST DONE A COMPLETE ORBIT, A 360 TURN ACCORDING TO HIM. IT HOVERED FOR A SECOND, AT APPROXIMATELY 50-100 FEET, WHEN IT SUDDENLY WENT INTO A SPIN TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INTO THE TREES. THE WITNESS DEMONSTRATED HOW THE HELICOPTER MADE ITS TURN, THEN HOVERING, FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE WIND MADE A SUDDEN SPIN TO THE LEFT.

THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED AND ALL THREE PEOPLE ONBOARD WERE INJURED.

THERE WAS A POST CRASH 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 CEN14GA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14GA109), Jan 10, 2014: American Eurocopter AS350B3 (N3948A), Encino, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s limited experience in the…

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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