NTSB CAROL · Event
Event WPR21LA027
Registry · N530H
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
AMERICAN EUROCOPTER LLC AS350B3
Year of manufacture
2008 · 12 years old at event
TCDS
H9EU · AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
Engine
TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1 (747 hp)
Seats / Engines
7 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20081022
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A6B11C
Registrant of record
BAS PART SALES LLC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude above terrain while operating in reduced visibility due to snow showers.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to relocate the helicopter to a hangar at a nearby airport before a winter storm impacted the area. The pilot took off in moderate visual meteorological conditions and moderate rain; but as the helicopter neared the airport, the precipitation turned from rain to snow. The pilot turned final about 1 mile north of the airport when the precipitation increased, and the visibility reduced. The helicopter impacted terrain about 200 yards north of the runway surface in a mostly level attitude before it rolled onto its left side. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained
- — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
- — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Snow-Effect on operation
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2020_WPR21LA027.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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