Eurocopter AS 350 B2 accident near Taltal, Cl, November 6, 2010
On November 6, 2010 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2, registered CCAAN, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Taltal. It was an external-load flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.
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 6, 2010 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Taltal, Chile · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · all AS 350 B2s on the register
- Registration
- CCAAN · no longer on the register · serial 3323
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- External-load flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 6, 2010, at 2330 universal coordinated time, a Eurocopter, AS 350 B2 helicopter, Chilean registration CC-AAN, collided with terrain while in low level cruise flight near Taltal, Chile. The flight was operated by Servicios y Transporte Aereos Hell-can Ltda. The helicopter was destroyed by post impact fire. The pilot was killed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was en route to Las Breas Airport (SCTT), Las Breas, Chile and departed Aguas Verdes, Taltal, Chile, earlier, about 2300. The flight was conducted under Chilean flight regulations. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Chile. Further information may be obtained from: Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics Chile Elena Blanco # 1050 Providencia, Chile 7500000 Telephone: 011 56 02 410 7399 Fax: 011 56 02 410 7632 This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information obtained for or released by the Government of Chile.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Spatial disorientation › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,567 hours in all
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 4,850 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Aguas Verde
- Destination: SCTT Las Breas
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.