Eurocopter AS 350 B2 accident near Spofford, Texas, January 12, 2024
On January 12, 2024 at about 1:00 am local time, a 2003 Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (helicopter), registered N204TX, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Spofford, Texas. It was an aerial observation flight under public-use (government) rules. 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fatigue failure of the fuel control unit control lever arm, which resulted in fuel starvation, and a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 2024 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Spofford, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B2, built 2003 · all AS 350 B2s on the register
- Registration
- N204TX · no longer on the register · serial 3711
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew had competed their aerial observation and were enroute to the destination airport. While enroute, the pilot felt a violent yaw to the right, saw the engine low pressure annunciator illuminate, and heard the low rotor horn. After the engine lost power, the pilot transferred the flight controls to the copilot, who performed an autorotation and landed the helicopter in a brush-covered field. Postaccident examination and testing of the engine revealed that the engine’s fuel control unit (FCU) control lever arm was broken. Metallurgical examination of the control lever arm revealed it had failed due to a fatigue fracture which resulted in a loss of fuel control to the engine and fuel starvation.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 768 hours in all; 433 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 584 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 25, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,448 hours in all; 3,430 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 20, 2023; 9,547.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Safran Aircraft Engines Arriel 1D1 (turboshaft); 1,498 hours total
- Operator: Texas Department Of Public Safety
The flight
- Departed from: DRT Del Rio TX at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.46 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from 5T9, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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
7 documents, released by the NTSB on February 13, 2025. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of N204TX Engine Test and Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Fuel Control Unit Maintenance Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 17 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum for Record - BEA Report Review | 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.