Bell 412EP accident near Trujillo, CO, November 13, 2010
On November 13, 2010 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Bell 412EP (helicopter), registered XAUNI, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Trujillo. It was a business flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 13, 2010 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Trujillo, Colombia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 412EP · all 412EPs on the register
- Registration
- XAUNI · no longer on the register · serial 36240
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 13, 2010, about 2115 universal coordinated time, a Bell 412, Mexican registration XA-UNI, owned and operated by Aeroservicios Especializados S.A. de C.V. (ASESA), crashed in mountainous terrain near Trujillo, Colombia. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the flight from Antonio Roldan Betancourt Airport (SKLC), Apartado, Colombia, to Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (SKRG), Rionegro, Colombia. The helicopter was destroyed and the Mexico certificated commercial pilot and co-pilot, and one passenger were killed. The time of departure from SKLC has not been determined. After departure during cruise flight, the flight encountered adverse weather and the pilot requested to proceed to Tulua (Valle del Cauca, Colombia). A few minutes later the helicopter collided with mountainous terrain. A search was initiated for the helicopter and the wreckage was located 3 days later. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Colombia. Any further information can be obtained from: Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronautica Civil Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado Bogota, Colombia Telephone: 571.425.1000 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by or obtained for the Government of Colombia.
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
- Other weather encounter during enroute (cruise)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise)
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 11,900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6T Series (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SKLC Apartado
- Destination: SKRG Rionegro
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from SKLC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.