Airbus Helicopters Deutschland EC135T3 accident near Dodge Center, Minnesota, November 22, 2023
On November 22, 2023 at about 3:00 am local time, a 2022 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland EC135T3, registered N423NM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Dodge Center, Minnesota. It was a positioning flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with a flock of birds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2023 · about 3:00 am local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Dodge Center, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters Deutschland EC135T3, built 2022 · all EC135T3s on the register
- Registration
- N423NM · registry record · serial 2193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a dark night flight in visual meteorological conditions, an emergency medical services helicopter collided with a flock of birds about 1,100 ft above ground level. The impact shattered the windscreen and caused what the pilot described as an explosion. Despite the damage, the pilot was able to stabilize the helicopter and head towards the nearest airport, about 7.5 miles away. The helicopter landed without further incident. A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the main rotor blades in the pitch control cuff area and the monocoque structure of the fantail.
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) › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine sea; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,124 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 18, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 2023; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Safran Arrius 2B2 (turboshaft); 420 hours total
- Engine 2: Safran Arrius 2B2 (turboshaft); 420 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 99MN Rochester MN at 2:51 am
- Destination: FBL Fairbault MN
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 310° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from KTOB, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTOB 220255Z AUTO31011G16KT 10SM CLR M02/M04 A3010
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 2 – Helicopter after Recovery to a Hangar
Photo 4 – Damage to a Main Rotor Blade Near the Cuff AreaThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 12, 2024. 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 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN24LA053 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array 1 CEN24LA053 | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N423NM on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Airbus Helicopters EC-135 now H135 397 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Airbus Helicopters 267 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Safran Arrius 2B2 38 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Safran Arrius 2B2 38 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mayo Clinic St. Marys Hospital Heliport · departed from
- Faribault Muni-Liz Wall Strohfus Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Minnesota 1,544 since 1982 · 209 in the last ten years
- Minnesota 6,958 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN24LA053.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.