Eurocopter EC130 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, February 26, 2017
On February 26, 2017 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2008 Eurocopter EC130 (helicopter), registered N864MH, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Las Vegas, Nevada (Mc Carran Intl airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's abrupt cyclic/pitch attitude control movement, which resulted in a Fenestron ground strike.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 2017 · about 6:00 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Mc Carran Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter EC130 B4, built 2008 · all EC130s on the register
- Registration
- N864MH · registry record · serial 4616
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the helicopter reported that, during the hover-taxi for departure in the ramp area, he was monitoring another helicopter that had just departed and then "brought [his] eyes inside [the helicopter]" to switch a radio frequency. As the pilot looked back outside, he observed "the nose of a big plane taxiing" from behind another parked airplane to his left. Subsequently, the pilot abruptly applied aft cyclic to stop the helicopter's forward momentum, and the Fenestron struck the ramp. The pilot returned to the ramp area without further incident. The Fenestron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abrupt maneuver during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,039 hours in all; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,962 as pilot in command; 80 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 23, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,339 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 14, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 5,350 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 2B1 (turboshaft); 9,291 hours total
- Operator: Maverick Helicopters Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 6:00 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KLAS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 3, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N864MH on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Airbus Helicopters EC 130 now H130 311 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Airbus Helicopters 267 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 2B1 271 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Harry Reid International · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Nevada 1,294 since 1982 · 223 in the last ten years
- Nevada 4,582 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/GAA17CA167.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.