Eurocopter AS 350 B2 accident near Cave Creek, Arizona, February 23, 2009
On February 23, 2009 at about 2:55 am local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (helicopter), registered N353P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Cave Creek, Arizona. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 misjudged landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the brownout condition created by the dust cloud that interfered with the pilot's perception of proximity to the ground, and the glare interference from the parked fire vehicles headlights with the pilot's night vision goggles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2009 · about 2:55 am local time
- Place
- Cave Creek, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · all AS 350 B2s on the register
- Registration
- N353P · registry record · serial 3885
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a night time positioning flight to a traffic accident to pick up a patient, the pilot obtained landing zone information by radio from first responders. The first responders informed the pilot that there were numerous obstructions surrounding the dirt parking lot landing zone. The pilot performed an aerial reconnaissance of the parking lot to visually identify obstacles and asked ground personnel if the landing area had been watered down. The ground personnel replied that the landing area was not wetted down; however, it "looked damp." The pilot proceeded to initiate his approach to the dirt parking lot and observed dust starting to circulate around the helicopter. Shortly after, the pilot encountered a brownout about 15 to 20 feet above ground level (agl). He then reduced power in an effort to land quicker and reduce the dust volume. As the helicopter descended through about 10 feet agl, the pilot lost visual reference through his night vision goggles due to lights from adjacent emergency service vehicles. The pilot attempted to look outside through the windows underneath his NVGs as he slightly adjusted the collective. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard, adjacent to an office building and fire truck, forward and to the left of the pilot's original intended landing area. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom and fuselage were structurally damaged.
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
- Loss of visual reference during approach
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › (general) › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Obscuration › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,106 hours in all; 753 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 7,480 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 3, 2008; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1D1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phi INC
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 2:45 am
- Destination: Cave Creek AZ
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from DVT, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
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.