Sud Aviation/Eurocopter ALOUETTE II SE313B accident near Glenn, California, July 13, 2012
On July 13, 2012 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Sud Aviation/Eurocopter ALOUETTE II SE313B (helicopter), registered N45VX, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Glenn, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a tailwind while hovering, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2012 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Glenn, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sud Aviation/Eurocopter ALOUETTE II SE313B
- Registration
- N45VX · registry record · serial 1229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While hovering, the student pilot lost directional control, and the helicopter spun around to the left 3 1/2 turns before it impacted the ground and rolled over after the right skid collapsed. The pilot reported that there was a tailwind of about 5 knots. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and the main gear box frame. The pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.
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 control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, student
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,473 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 3,325 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 4, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,736 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE II (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Priority Farms
The flight
- Departed from: Glenn CA
- Destination: Glenn CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CIC, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N45VX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.