- Date
- April 8, 2009, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cubiri, Mexico
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Aircraft
- XC-MINEurocopter AS350B2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Lead agency
- Other
- Parties
- Turbomeca
- Case key
- 74096
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Factual narrative
On April 8, 2009 at approximately 0800 pacific daylight time a Eurocopter single engine helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain after departing from the Culiacan International Airport, Sinaloa, Mexico. The mission was to take aerial photographs. Several hours later, the helicopter wreckage was located near the town of Cubiri near the highest mountain in the area. The pilot and the two passengers were killed and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter engine was secured and sent to Turbomeca Engines facility in Grand Prairie, Texas for further examination. 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-MIN
- Reported as
- Eurocopter AS350B2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3236
- Engine
- Turbomeca Arriel 1, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work use · Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator
- Servicio Geologico Mexicano
- Registered owner
- Servicio Geologico Mexicano
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Cubiri
- Destination
- Cubiri
- Flight plan
- Unknown
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Seat
- Right
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- MMLM, 19 nm away