Eurocopter AS 350 accident near King Vale, California, July 11, 2017
On July 11, 2017 at about 10:10 pm local time, a 2002 Eurocopter AS 350 (helicopter), registered N357PJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near King Vale, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while landing in a dusty, unimproved landing zone.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2017 · about 10:10 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- King Vale, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B3, built 2002 · all AS 350s on the register
- Registration
- N357PJ · registry record · serial 3608
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the helicopter reported that, during the landing on the unimproved dirt parking lot, dust started to kick up, and he transitioned to looking through the "chin bubble" for a visual point of reference. When the helicopter was about 5 to 6 ft above the ground, the pilot felt a sudden impact, followed by subsequent impacts from the two additional rotor blades impacting what was later found to be a tree. The helicopter "violently" fell to the ground and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Roll over during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Obscuration › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,631 hours in all; 1,248 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 3,599 as pilot in command; 2,654 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 23, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,936.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 24, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Safran (Turbomeca) 2B (turboshaft); 1,901 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Soda Springs CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: King Vale CA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from KBLU, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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 August 31, 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's Statement | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | 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
- N357PJ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Airbus Helicopters AS350 AStar (Écureuil), now H125 893 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Airbus Helicopters 267 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Safran (Turbomeca) 2B · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/GAA17CA404.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.