# NTSB WPR23LA066: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, N415RX, Yuba City, CA, December 13, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 12, 2022, 17:35 local (Dec 13, 2022, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Yuba City, CA · Tierra Buena
- Coordinates: 39.176333, -121.69066
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1763&lon=-121.6907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106456
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106456/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106456
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA066

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird while in cruise flight.

## Findings

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

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1145302), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1145302), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1145302), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot in the helicopter reported that, during cruise flight at dusk with night vision goggles on, he encountered a flock of birds at 1,500 ft above ground level. As the pilot initiated a climbing left turn to avoid the birds, he heard a loud bang accompanied by a pain in his left leg. The helicopter then began to vibrate, and the pilot initiated a precautionary landing in a nearby field without further incident. Bird remains were located throughout the pilot side of the cockpit. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the windshield. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N415RX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N415RX), registered now, S/N 9130, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS EC 130 T2
- Registry model: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-helicopters-ec-130-t2) (registry code 1145302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Safran ARRIEL-2D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/safran-arriel-2d) (registry code 59997, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 9130
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 223.2
- Engines: SAFRAN ARRIEL 2D 802 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Reach Air Medical Services LLC
- Registered owner: Reach Air Medical Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 8, 2022
- Departed: KMCC, Sacramento, CA
- Destination: KRDD, Redding, CA
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Video recording device, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,671 total, 1,627 in this make and model, 2,671 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observed at: KBAB, 13 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBAB 120055Z AUTO 13007KT 10SM OVC060 09/05 A2977

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20221212021099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221212021099A), Dec 12, 2022: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, Yuba City, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot made an off-airport emergency landing into an open field due to a bird strike that ingressed through the lower portion of the left side windscreen while…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106456. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14958258&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA066%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (operator) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14958170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA066%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14957642&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA066%20damage%20Photo-Rel.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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