Aerospatiale AS-355F accident near El Paso, Texas, July 20, 1984
On July 20, 1984 at about 1:23 am local time, a Aerospatiale AS-355F (helicopter), registered N240US, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas (El Paso International airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 20, 1984 · about 1:23 am local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · El Paso International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-355F · all AS-355Fs on the register
- Registration
- N240US · no longer on the register · serial 5121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS DURING LANDING. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE ASPHALT RAMP SLIGHTLY NOSE LOW AND BOUNCED 2-3 FT INTO THE AIR. THE NOSE DIPPED MORE AND FULL AFT CYCLIC WAS APPLIED. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE GROUND AND THE ACFT YAWED AND ROLLED OVER TO THE RIGHT. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED TURBULENCE AND AS HE TURNED TOWARD THE RAMP TO LAND THE ACFT BEGAN A RAPID DESCENT FROM 50 FT AGL. A LITTLE COLLECTIVE WAS ADDED BUT THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND. THE PLT TURNED FAST INTO THE WIND AND ADDED FULL UP COLLECTIVE. THE DESCENT CONTINUED TO IMPACT.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,463 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 7,427 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 362 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 16, 1984; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C-20F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PEQ Pecos TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:31 am from ELP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.