# NTSB ERA11WA086: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Taltal, Chile, November 6, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: November 6, 2010, 23:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Taltal, Chile
- Coordinates: -25.533332, -70.283332
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-25.5333&lon=-70.2833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: FAA/IFO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77989
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11WA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77989/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77989
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11WA086

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Perception/orientation/illusion: spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On November 6, 2010, at 2330 universal coordinated time, a Eurocopter, AS 350 B2 helicopter, Chilean registration CC-AAN, collided with terrain while in low level cruise flight near Taltal, Chile. The flight was operated by Servicios y Transporte Aereos Hell-can Ltda. The helicopter was destroyed by post impact fire. The pilot was killed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was en route to Las Breas Airport (SCTT), Las Breas, Chile and departed Aguas Verdes, Taltal, Chile, earlier, about 2300. The flight was conducted under Chilean flight regulations. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Chile. Further information may be obtained from: Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics Chile Elena Blanco # 1050 Providencia, Chile 7500000 Telephone: 011 56 02 410 7399 Fax: 011 56 02 410 7632 This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information obtained for or released by the Government of Chile.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CC-AAN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2
- Serial number: 3323
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: External load, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Servicios y Transportes Aereos, Hell-can Ltda.
- Departed: Aguas Verde
- Destination: SCTT, Las Breas
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: fatal; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; flight hours: 10,567 total

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77989. 7 KB in all.

- Miscellaneous: Memorandum (item 1, .PDF, 7 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341124&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Memorandum-Master.PDF

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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