# NTSB CEN09WA188: Bell 212, Aguascalientes, Mexico, February 28, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: February 28, 2009, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Aguascalientes, Mexico
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 10 minor
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: Bell Helicopter
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73432
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09WA188
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73432/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09WA188

## Probable cause

Not Required. Investigation is being conducted by the DGAC, Mexico.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Not Required. Investigation is being conducted by the DGAC, Mexico.

## Factual narrative

On February 28, 2009 at 11:00 AM Central Standard Time a Bell Helicopter, model 212, Mexican Registration XC-DES crashed on takeoff from a soccer field near Jesus Maria, Aguascalientes, Mexico. The helicopter was Operated by the Comision Nacional de Agua, and was a VIP flight. The pilot, mechanic and 8 passengers all sustained minor injuries. It was reported that the takeoff attempt was in a downwind condition with power lines and trees around the soccer field. The helicopter got about 120 feet from takeoff spot when the main rotor blades struck a concrete power pole. The aircraft came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage. A technical adviser from Bell Helicopter traveled to Aguascalientes, Mexico to assist in the DGAC Investigation. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Mexico. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Mexico. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) Direccion General de Aeronutica Civil (DGAC) Col. san Juan de Arrgon, 3-seccion Del. Venustiano Carrabza Mexico, D.F, Mexico c.p. 15620 Telephone: 55-2598-0138

## Aircraft

- Registration: XC-DES (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 30978
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Comision Nacional de Agua
- Registered owner: Comision Nacional de Agua
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Departed: Aguascalientes
- Destination: Aguascalientes
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

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.

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