Eurocopter EC120B accident near Triso, My, July 20, 2012
On July 20, 2012 at about 1:35 pm local time, a Eurocopter EC120B (helicopter), registered N8899, was substantially damaged in an accident near Triso. It was an executive or corporate flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed; 1 other was unhurt.
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
- July 20, 2012 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Triso, Malaysia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter EC120B · all EC120Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8899 · no longer on the register · serial 1541
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 20,1012, at 1335 universal coordinated time, a Eurocopter EC120B, N8899, ditched into the Batang Lupar River, near Triso, Malaysia. The helicopter had a United States registration and was operated by the Sebiro Holding Company under the provisions of the Malaysian Civil Aviation Regulations 1996. The commercial pilot was not injured, and three passengers who survived the ditching subsequently drowned in the river. The flight originated at the Kuching International Airport at 0857. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Malaysia. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Malaysia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Pejabat Ketua Inspektor Kemalangan Udara Kementerian Pengagkutan Malaysia Aras 2, Precinct 4 Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan 62570 PUTRAJAYA Tel: +603.88714000 Fax: +603.88714069
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
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS 2F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.