Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 accident near Chelsea, AL
On April 2, 2023, an Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Chelsea, AL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 2, 2023
- Place
- Chelsea, AL
- Aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.378°N, 86.629°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230403106990
Official records · ERA23FA175
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On April 2, 2023, at 1723 central daylight time, an Airbus Helicopters EC130 T2 helicopter, N231SH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chelsea, Alabama. The pilot and flight nurse were fatally injured. The flight paramedic was seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air ambulance flight. Witnesses were driving when they saw a helicopter off to the side of the road about 100 ft away and 3 to 4 ft above the ground. The helicopter was hovering, facing south, and parallel to the road. The helicopter then rapidly ascended and turned toward the road. The helicopter moved above the car for several seconds and turned 180° back toward a field, and immediately the helicopter pitched nose down and impacted the road behind them. Another witness was outside of this house when he saw a helicopter hovering over a field across the road. He was not sure if the helicopter landed or was a few feet above the ground. He saw the helicopter’s tail go straight up in the air before it then flew sideways and impacted the ground. Video from a local deputy sheriff’s dash camera captured the helicopter coming over the trees, going out of view for about one second, and then reappearing in a steep, nose-down attitude before impacting the road. The helicopter then slid about 20 ft before coming to rest in the grass. PERSONAL INFORMATION The pilot was a helicopter pilot with an instrument rating. His total flight experience was 8,965 hours. His total flight experience with the Airbus EC 130 T2 was 18 hours. WRECKAGE A
Probable cause
The pilot’s delayed corrective inputs while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s use of multiple sedating medications.
More accidents in AL
- Beech C99, Jul 10, 1991
- Cessna 421A, Jun 22, 1983
- Cessna 421C, Jul 9, 2011
- Piper PA 31, Aug 14, 2016
- Beech 95-B55B, Dec 5, 1992
Browse: Alabama · Airbus 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.
