Eurocopter AS 350 B2 N204TX

Summary

On 12 January 2024 at about 01:00 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 registered N204TX, operated by Texas Department of Public Safety, was involved in an accident near Spofford, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 January 2024 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Spofford, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.1593, -100.4986

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350 B2

Registration

N204TX

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Texas Department of Public Safety

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Del Rio → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CEN24LA088

2 people had minor injuries.

The fatigue failure of the fuel control unit control lever arm, which resulted in fuel starvation, and a loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight crew had competed their aerial observation and were enroute to the destination airport. While enroute, the pilot felt a violent yaw to the right, saw the engine low pressure annunciator illuminate, and heard the low rotor horn. After the engine lost power, the pilot transferred the flight controls to the copilot, who performed an autorotation and landed the helicopter in a brush-covered field. Postaccident examination and testing of the engine revealed that the engine’s fuel control unit (FCU) control lever arm was broken. Metallurgical examination of the control lever arm revealed it had failed due to a fatigue fracture which resulted in a loss of fuel control to the engine and fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.