Eurocopter France AS-350-BA accident near Hopewell, New Jersey, June 14, 2001
On June 14, 2001 at about 5:00 am local time, a Eurocopter France AS-350-BA (helicopter), registered N555LH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hopewell, New Jersey (Trenton-Mercer airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 7 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper decision to continue flight in instrument meteorological conditions, and which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. Factors were the fog, and dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2001 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Hopewell, New Jersey · Trenton-Mercer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter France AS-350-BA · all AS-350-BAs on the register
- Registration
- N555LH · registry record · serial 3018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed in a helicopter with seven passengers, on a night VFR cross-country flight under FAR 135, into known deteriorating weather conditions. About 35 minutes after departure, while maneuvering in IMC conditions, the helicopter struck trees, and came to rest about 735 feet from initial tree contact. The flight had been one of two helicopters that had carried passengers to the departure airport. The pilot of the other helicopter made three contacts with flight service for weather briefings, and relayed his finding to the accident pilot. The briefings included VFR flight not recommended, and deteriorating weather. The company operations manual called for a minimum weather of a 500 foot ceiling and 1 mile visibility, and that to operate VFR, the pilot had to have visual surface reference. The pilot reported that he entered IMC conditions and was attempting to perform a precautionary landing when the tail rotor struck a tree. The pilot also reported that after the accident, he estimated the ceiling was about 100 feet high and the visibility was about 1 mile at the accident site. Radar data tracked the flight as the pilot maneuvered between 300 feet MSL, and 1,300 feet MSL, and then descended toward a nearby airport. However, due to terrain, there was no radar of the last portion of the flight. A pilot rated passenger seated in the front row, reported the pilot entered into IMC conditions, and maneuvered in IMC conditions for several minutes. He also said the helicopter was in IMC conditions, in cruise flight when it struck trees. The departure weight exceeded the maximum allowable takeoff weight by about 115 pounds and also exceeded the forward CG limit. Additionally, the passengers reported no pre-departure passenger briefing had been conducted.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,519 hours in all; 1,063 in this make and model; 199 in the last 90 days; 76 in the last 30 days; 2,401 as pilot in command; 678 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 10, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,804.3 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 30, 2001; 37.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHL Philadelphia PA at 4:25 am
- Destination: JRA New York NY
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 5:03 am from TTN, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.