Bell 212 accident near Minatitlan Veracruz, Mx, October 15, 2010
On October 15, 2010 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Bell 212 (helicopter), registered XAIUR, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Minatitlan Veracruz. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 8 people were killed.
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
- October 15, 2010 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Minatitlan Veracruz, Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 8 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 212 NO SERIES · all 212s on the register
- Registration
- XAIUR · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
The government of Mexico has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a BELL 212 helicopter that occurred on October 15, 2010. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Mexico's investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13.All investigative information will be released by the government of Mexico.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.