Aerospatiale AS350 accident near Loreto, Pe, October 29, 2009
On October 29, 2009 at about 1:05 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS350 (helicopter), registered OB1909P, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Loreto. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2009 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Loreto, Peru · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350 B2 · all AS350s on the register
- Registration
- OB1909P · no longer on the register · serial 2433
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 29, 2009, about 1305 UTC, a Eurocopter AS350-B2, Peruvian registration OB-1909-P, operated by Helinka, had a total loss of engine power while descending to a remote landing zone. The helicopter collided with trees during a forced landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage. The commercial pilot and one passenger were killed. One passenger received serious injury and the remaining passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from a remote landing site at Loreto, Peru, at 1235 UTC. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Peru Comision de Investigacion de Accidentes de Aviacion (CIAA). Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: CIAA Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil Jirón Zorritos 1203 Lima 1 Perú Telephone: 011-511-615-7800, Ext. 3030 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only information released by the Government of Peru.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Loreto at 12:35 pm
- Destination: Loreto
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from SPQT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.