Bell 412EP accident near Rio Frio, Mx, December 18, 2001
On December 18, 2001 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Bell 412EP (helicopter), registered XCPUE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Frio. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was seriously injured; 9 others were unhurt. 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
- December 18, 2001 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Frio, Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 9 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 412EP · all 412EPs on the register
- Registration
- XCPUE · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Government Of The State Of Puebla
The flight
- Departed from: Rio Frio
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 8 |
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.