Eurocopter AS 350 B3 N791AM

Summary

On 24 May 2023 at about 05:10 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B3 registered N791AM, operated by US Department of Homeland Security, was involved in an accident near San Diego, California, United States. 2 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

24 May 2023 at 05:10

Classification

Accident

Location

San Diego, California, United States

Nearest airport

Brown Fld Muni (SDM)

Coordinates

32.5704, -116.9848

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350 B3

Registration

N791AM

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

US Department of Homeland Security

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR23LA200

Nobody was injured.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.