Eurocopter AS350B2 accident near Cubiri, Mx, April 8, 2009
On April 8, 2009 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS350B2 (helicopter), registered XCMIN, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Cubiri. It was an other work-use flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2009 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cubiri, Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS350B2 · all AS350B2s on the register
- Registration
- XCMIN · no longer on the register · serial 3236
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 8, 2009 at approximately 0800 pacific daylight time a Eurocopter single engine helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain after departing from the Culiacan International Airport, Sinaloa, Mexico. The mission was to take aerial photographs. Several hours later, the helicopter wreckage was located near the town of Cubiri near the highest mountain in the area. The pilot and the two passengers were killed and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter engine was secured and sent to Turbomeca Engines facility in Grand Prairie, Texas for further examination. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Mexico. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Mexico. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) Direccion General de Aeronutica Civil (DGAC) Col. san Juan de Arrgon, 3-seccion Del. Venustiano Carrabza Mexico, D.F, Mexico c.p. 15620 Telephone: 55-2598-0138
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute
Pilot
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cubiri
- Destination: Cubiri
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 pm from MMLM, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.