Aerospatiale AS350B2 accident near Roswell, NM
On October 19, 2001, an Aerospatiale AS350B2 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Roswell, NM. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 19, 2001
- Place
- Roswell, NM
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B2 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.420°N, 104.659°W
- NTSB ID
- 20011025X02148
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 19, 2001, at 1458 mountain daylight time, an Aerospatiale AS350B2 helicopter, N111DT, was destroyed during impact with terrain while maneuvering near Roswell, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries, and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Medical Air Transport, Inc., of Payson, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rule (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 orientation flight. The local flight originated from the New Mexico State Police Office parking lot in Roswell, at 1451. The pilot had been conducting landing zone training with the New Mexico State Police. Subsequent to the training being completed, the pilot took three members of the State Police on an orientation flight for the purpose of demonstrating the capabilities of the air medical helicopter to approach and land at the scene of an accident. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), that no anomalies were noted with the helicopter during preflight, start, run-up, takeoff, and the flight to the New Mexico State Police office. He further reported that no anomalies were noted during the accident flight run-up and takeoff. The pilot stated that after a maximum performance takeoff (to clear wires) to the southwest from the parking lot at the State Police Office, the flight departed the area to the west and climbed to an altitude of 5,500 feet msl. After selecting a landi
Probable cause
The seizing of the cyclic control for an undetermined reason. A contributing factor was the lack of altitude for the pilot to regain control of the helicopter.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
- Piper PA-32-300, Dec 26, 1982
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Jun 25, 1992
- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
- Beech 58, Mar 26, 1982
Browse: New Mexico · Aerospatiale aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
