# Accident 20191204022009A: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Los Angeles, CA, December 4, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 4, 2019, 19:15 local time
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Airport: El Monte
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9425° N, 118.4081° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9425&lon=-118.4081&mi=10
- Aircraft: N71HD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71HD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1 (registry code 60053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1D1
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,300 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA20IA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20IA034) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191204022009A

## Narrative

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

WHILE IN FLIGHT, AT APPROXIMATELY 110 KTS (IAS), THE HELICOPTER STRUCK AN UNKOWN OBJECT.  THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS DAMAGED LEAVING A 1" HOLE AND A 4" DENT.  THE TAIL ROTOR WAS ALSO DAMAGED LEAVING A 2" MARK.

## 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 DCA20IA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20IA034), Dec 5, 2019: Airbus AS 350 B2 (N71HD), Los Angeles, CA, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: an inflight collision with a hard object of polycarbonate construction, with size and features consistent with that of a small UAS (drone).

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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