Eurocopter AS 350 B3 accident near San Elizario, Texas, May 22, 2007
On May 22, 2007 at about 2:38 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (helicopter), registered N851BP, was destroyed in an accident near San Elizario, Texas. It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's encounter with a vortex ring state and his inability to maintain control of the helicopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2007 · about 2:38 pm local time
- Place
- San Elizario, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B3 · all AS 350 B3s on the register
- Registration
- N851BP · no longer on the register · serial 3588
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was reported to have been maneuvering at a low airspeed at an altitude of approximately 150 feet above the ground while on a patrol flight near an international border. Local authorities reported that the helicopter impacted a parked pickup truck in a nose-low attitude while in a right turn, coming to rest on its right side. Witnesses said that the helicopter "appeared to dip the nose-down and enter a spin to the right nearly straight down. One witness added that the helicopter appeared to have recovered from the spin and initiated a climb before it began to spin to the right again, impacting the ground in a near-vertical attitude. Other witnesses added that the engine appeared to be "screaming." A witness, who reported having experience as a helicopter mechanic, added that the engine was screaming, but that the rotor system sounded as though it was slowing down. One witness stated it sounded like it was sucking or chopping air. The recorded weather near the accident site was reported as winds from 260 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, dew point 1 degree Celsius, and a barometric pressure of 29.94 inches of Mercury. Density Altitude was computed to be 5,433 feet MSL, No discrepancies or pre-existing anomalies were found with the helicopter or the engine that could have precluded normal flight. A performance study was conducted to determine the controllability and maneuvering capabilities while operating in the flight environment during the assigned observation mission. The study concluded that at the approximate altitude of 150 feet AGL and an airspeed of 20-30 knots, may not have allowed sufficient time or altitude for the pilot to recover after the helicopter entered a vortex ring state, A fully developed vortex ring state is characterized by an unstable condition where the helicopter experiences uncommanded pitch and roll oscillations, has little or no cyclic authority, and achieves a descent rate which, if allowed to develop, may approach 6000 feet per minute. A vortex ring state may be entered during any maneuver that places the main rotor in a condition of high upflow and low forward airspeed
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,526 hours in all; 173 in this make and model; 3,947 as pilot in command; 1,065 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 6, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,819 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 2007; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 2B1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: US Border Patrol Air Operations
The flight
- Departed from: KELP El Paso TX at 12:55 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from KELP, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
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.