# Accident 20230402006579A: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, Chelsea, AL, April 2, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 2, 2023, 17:23 local time
- Place: Chelsea, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 33.3782° N, 86.6285° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3782&lon=-86.6285&mi=10
- Aircraft: N231SH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N231SH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 (registry code 1145302, https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-helicopters-ec-130-t2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2D (registry code 60080, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS EC 130 T2
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 8,950 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23FA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA175) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230402006579A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.  AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE LEFT FORWARD SECTION, LEFT LANDING GEAR SKID, MAIN ROTOR AND TAILBOOM.  TAILBOOM WAS STRUCTURALLY DETACHED FROM THE FUSELAGE. A POST-CRASH FIRE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 ERA23FA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA175), Apr 2, 2023: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 (N231SH), Chelsea, AL, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s delayed corrective inputs while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s use of multiple sedating medications.

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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