Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 accident near Meadview, Arizona, September 27, 2007
On September 27, 2007 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 (helicopter), registered N808MH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meadview, Arizona (Pearce Ferry airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Collision with a bird during cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2007 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Meadview, Arizona · Pearce Ferry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 · all EC 130 B4s on the register
- Registration
- N808MH · registry record · serial 3914
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot observed one large bird ahead to the left and below the helicopter while cruising between 100 and 120 knots, and 500 feet above terrain. Another large bird, tentatively believed to be a Golden eagle with an 8-foot wingspan, suddenly appeared directly ahead of the helicopter. Although the lower elevation bird passed left of the helicopter, the second bird impacted the helicopter in the area of the front windscreen (bubble). The center front and left windscreens shattered, and debris impacted and injured the pilot and two passengers. The pilot immediately commenced a shallow bank turn toward a nearby airport while descending for landing. The air tour sightseeing flight helicopter was equipped with a video camera, which captured images of the approaching birds.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,465 hours in all; 2,185 in this make and model; 225 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 8,360 as pilot in command; 1,150 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,893 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 5,350 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Maverick Helicopters, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 9:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Grand Canyon AZ
- Runway 01, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 5 |
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.