Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 N3WL

Summary

On 13 February 2025 at about 17:50 local time, a Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 registered N3WL was involved in an accident near Moab, Utah, United States. 7 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 February 2025 at 17:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Moab, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY)

Coordinates

38.7591, -109.7457

Aircraft

Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2

Registration

N3WL

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2023

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA093

Nobody was injured.

The inflight collision with debris during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that shortly after he lifted off from a helipad, a window dislodged from a nearby hangar door and impacted the helicopter’s main rotor blade from behind, which in a loss of lift and an excessive vibration. The pilot initiated an emergency landing and subsequently landed hard. One of the main rotor blades was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.