# NTSB CEN16WA009: Bell 430, Xalapa, Mexico, October 6, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: October 6, 2015, 23:55 local (23:55 UTC)
- Place: Xalapa, Mexico
- Coordinates: 19.486944, -96.798889
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.4869&lon=-96.7989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92163
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16WA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92163/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16WA009

## Sequence of events

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

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On October 6, 2015, at 2355 coordinated universal time (UTC), a Bell 430 helicopter, Mexican registration XC-VER, collided with terrain after departure from the El Lencero Airport, Xalapa, Mexico. A postimpact fire ensued. The pilot and co-pilot were fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter departed the El Lencero Airport at 2353 was en route to the Veracruz International Airport, Veracruz, Mexico. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC). This report is for informational purposes only and contains information released by or obtained from the government of the Mexico. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes Providencia No. 807 - 6o piso Colonia del Valle Codigo Postal 03100 México, D.F. Mexico

## Aircraft

- Registration: XC-VER (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 430
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45039
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operator: Gobierno del Estado de Veracruz
- Registered owner: Gobierno del Estado de Veracruz

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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