Bell 407 accident near Tlaxco, Mx, August 4, 2012
On August 4, 2012 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Bell 407 (helicopter), registered XCSSP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tlaxco. It was a business flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
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
- August 4, 2012 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tlaxco, Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 NO SERIES · all 407s on the register
- Registration
- XCSSP · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 4, 2012, at 1330 UTC, a Bell 407 helicopter, Mexico registration XC-SSP, owned and operated by Gobierno del Edo de Veracruz, sustained substantial damage when it lost engine power and impacted terrain near Tlaxco, Tlaxcala, Mexico. The pilot and 2 passengers on board were not injured. A third passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, which was originating and en route to Lencero Airport (MMJA) Jalapa, Mexico. When the helicopter lost engine power, the pilot initiated an autorotation to put it on the ground. The helicopter hit the ground hard and rolled over on its side. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Mexico. Any further information regarding the investigation can be obtained from the Direccion General De Aeronautica Civil (DGAC), Direccion De Investigacion De Accidentes E Incidentes De Aviacion, Mexico, at: Direccion General De Aeronautica Civil (DGAC), Direccion De Investigacion De Accidentes E Incidentes De Aviacion Providencia No 807, 7o Piso 03100 Mexico D. F. Telephone: (52) 44 4044 6405 Facsimile: (52) 55 5523 6275 E-mail: jgargall@sct.gob.mx This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the DGAC 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
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.