Leonardo Spa AW169 accident near Austin, Texas, November 22, 2021
On November 22, 2021 at about 8:34 pm local time, a 2019 Leonardo Spa AW169 (helicopter), registered N307TC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Austin, Texas. It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The helicopter’s impact with a bird during cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2021 · about 8:34 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Leonardo Spa AW169, built 2019 · all AW169s on the register
- Registration
- N307TC · registry record · serial 69081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the medical helicopter reported that, while transporting a patient, the medical crewmember seated in the front left seat identified the bird and announced its presence to the pilot. The pilot attempted to turn and descend to avoid impact, but the bird struck the helicopter’s windshield, windshield support beam, and greenhouse window, which resulted in substantial damage to the windshield support beam. The pilot diverted the helicopter to a nearby helipad and landed without further incident.
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
- Birdstrike during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,150 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 16, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 640 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 11, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 10,582 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW210A (turboshaft); 663 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW210A (turboshaft); 663 hours total
- Operator: County Of Travis
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Bastrop TX
- Destination: TE94 Austin TX
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KAUS, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAUS 222053Z 35011KT 10SM SCT300 21/00 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP241 T02060000 56026=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 19, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo of Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.