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WPR23LA200

2023-05-23 · San Diego, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SDM

Current FAA registration · N791AM

Make / Model
EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3
Year of manufacture
2007 · 16 years old at event
Engine
TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1 (747 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20080219
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AABBC8

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a hover taxi due to distraction resulting from the unanticipated activation of strobing lights while using night vision googles.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the helicopter reported that he had completed an operational mission, during which he was wearing Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), and returned to the airport. While hover taxiing to parking using the NVGs, an aircraft approaching the airport to land triggered the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), causing the helicopter’s strobing “wig-wag” lights to activate and impact the pilot’s visibility. The pilot looked down to locate the light switch and removed his hand from the collective to deactivate the lights. The helicopter descended and contacted the ground before the pilot could stop the descent. The helicopter subsequently became airborne again and the pilot was able to regain control and continue hover taxiing to parking. Substantial damage to the tail boom was discovered after the flight. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Bright light-Response/compensation
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Attention-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA200.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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