Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 N415RX

Summary

On 13 December 2022 at about 01:35 local time, a Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 registered N415RX, operated by Reach Air Medical Services LLC, was involved in an accident near Yuba City, California, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 December 2022 at 01:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Yuba City, California, United States

Coordinates

39.1763, -121.6907

Aircraft

Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2

Registration

N415RX

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2021

Engines

1

Operator

Reach Air Medical Services LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sacramento → Redding

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

WPR23LA066

Nobody was injured.

An in-flight collision with a bird while in cruise flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot in the helicopter reported that, during cruise flight at dusk with night vision goggles on, he encountered a flock of birds at 1,500 ft above ground level. As the pilot initiated a climbing left turn to avoid the birds, he heard a loud bang accompanied by a pain in his left leg. The helicopter then began to vibrate, and the pilot initiated a precautionary landing in a nearby field without further incident. Bird remains were located throughout the pilot side of the cockpit. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the windshield. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.