Airbus Helicopters EC 130 accident near Halloran Springs, CA
On February 10, 2024, an Airbus Helicopters EC 130 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Halloran Springs, CA. 6 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 10, 2024
- Place
- Halloran Springs, CA
- Aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters EC 130 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 6 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.373°N, 115.864°W
- NTSB ID
- 20240210193770
Official records · CEN24MA111
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
- Investigation page: status, final report and safety recommendations
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn February 9, 2024, about 2208 Pacific standard time, an Airbus Helicopters EC 130B4 helicopter, N130CZ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Halloran Springs, California. The two pilots and four passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated by Orbic Air, LLC, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 on-demand flight. According to company records, in the days preceding the accident, Orbic Air coordinated two charter flights with a broker. As per the agreement, Orbic Air would conduct a charter flight to transport passengers from the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), Palm Springs, California, to the Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU), Boulder City, Nevada. Three days later, Orbic Air would conduct a charter flight to pick up the passengers from BVU and fly them back to PSP. During the agreement discussions, the broker initially requested a twin-engine aircraft with an instrument-rated pilot; however, Orbic Air’s capability was limited to a single-engine aircraft and VFR operations. According to Orbic Air’s flight operations employee, during the broker discussions, he mentioned to the broker the addition of a second pilot for the nighttime flights, which was a standard company precaution for flights to Las Vegas, Nevada, due to the route and timing considerations. The charter flights were confirmed with the broker on February 8th. At 1405 on the day of the accident, the pilot and another company pilot/mechanic traveled by train to the Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California, to pick up the hel
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the company’s inadequate oversight of its safety management processes, including ensuring the pilots were accurately completing and updating the flight risk analysis, logging maintenance
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
Browse: California · 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.
