Agustawestland Philadelphia CO AW119MKII accident near Alexandria, Minnesota, February 13, 2021
On February 13, 2021 at about 5:11 pm local time, a 2014 Agustawestland Philadelphia CO AW119MKII (helicopter), registered N352LL, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Alexandria, Minnesota (Chandler Fld airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The helicopter’s impact with an object on departure that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2021 · about 5:11 pm local time
- Place
- Alexandria, Minnesota · Chandler Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Agustawestland Philadelphia CO AW119MKII, built 2014 · all AW119MKIIs on the register
- Registration
- N352LL · registry record · serial 14820
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot of the commercial air medical flight reported that during a climbing left turn on departure, he heard a “thud.” He confirmed with the crew they had not dropped anything, and they affirmed they had not. The pilot believed the helicopter had hit something and elected to return to the departure airport. The pilot scanned the air to find what they could have impacted but did not see anything and then assumed a cowling had become unlatched due to the cold and vibration. He landed and left the helicopter running while the crew looked over the helicopter. At this time, the pilot was notified the trip was cancelled so he shut down, refueled, and moved the helicopter into the hangar. Once in the hangar, the pilot noticed the leading edge of the main rotor blade was a dented with a hole through the blade just aft of the dent. What caused the substantial damage to the main rotor blade was not determined. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,723 hours in all; 590 in this make and model; 2,550 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 19, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,631 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 12, 2021; 2,468 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6B-37A (turboshaft); 2,468 hours total
- Operator: Critical Care Services INC DBA
The flight
- Destination: Gleenwood MN
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: -9°F (-23°C), dew point -20°F (-29°C)
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KAXN
Weather report (METAR): KAXN 131653Z AUTO 36003KT 10SM CLR M23/M29 A3045 RMK AO2 SLP364 T12331294
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN21LA128.