# NTSB WPR26FA008: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, N414RX, Sacramento, CA, October 7, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: October 6, 2025, 19:05 local (Oct 7, 2025, 02:05 UTC)
- Place: Sacramento, CA
- Coordinates: 38.558524, -121.45248 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5585&lon=-121.4525&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201802
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA008
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201802/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA008

## Preliminary report

On October 6, 2025, about 1905 Pacific daylight time, an Airbus Helicopters EC-130 T2, N414RX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Sacramento, California. The pilot and flight paramedic sustained serious injuries; the flight nurse succumbed to her injuries 4 days after the accident. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flight. The helicopter departed UC Davis Medical Center Tower II Heliport (3CLO), Sacramento, California, with a planned destination of Mc Clellan Airfield (MCC), Sacramento, California. The flight paramedic reported that shortly after takeoff she noticed the power had gone out and the helicopter was autorotating towards U.S. Route 50. She made a mayday call on the company radio frequency. Subsequently, the helicopter came to rest on its left side in the eastbound lanes of U.S. Route 50, about 1,600 ft north of 3CLO. A main rotor blade ground impression was observed on the residential side of the fence that enclosed the highway. Furthermore, a section of the outer portion of the main rotor blade was discovered embedded in the roof of a detached garage on a residential home located next to the highway. A review of ADS-B data revealed that the total accident flight was about 26 seconds. The data showed the helicopter departed the helipad and climb to a maximum altitude of about 500 ft mean sea level. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter was in descent for the final 11 seconds of the flight. Postaccident examination revealed that the helicopter’s fuselage and main rotor blades sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was recovered and retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1145302), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N414RX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N414RX), registered now, S/N 8909, 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: 8909
- Year built: 2021
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Reach Air Medical Services LLC
- Registered owner: Reach Air Medical Services LLC
- Departed: 3CLO, Sacramento, CA
- Destination: MCC, Sacramento, CA

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observed at: KMCC, 7 nm away
- METAR: METAR KMCC 062355Z AUTO 34005KT 10SM CLR 30/06 A2978 RMK AO2

## 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 20251006017219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251006017219A), Oct 6, 2025: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, Sacramento, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft operated under part 135 helicopter air ambulance dropped passenger off at uc davis medical center then departed northbound enroute to mclelland…

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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