Eurocopter EC 130 B4 accident near Boulder City, Nevada, January 1, 2014
On January 1, 2014 at about 11:07 pm local time, a Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (helicopter), registered N133GC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Boulder City, Nevada (Boulder City Muni airport). It was a flight test 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
A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the noncertificated maintenance technician’s failure to properly tighten and safety wire a B-nut fitting. Contributing to the accident was the maintenance technician’s failure to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance manual instructions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 2014 · about 11:07 pm local time
- Place
- Boulder City, Nevada · Boulder City Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter EC 130 B4 B · all EC 130 B4s on the register
- Registration
- N133GC · no longer on the register · serial 3883
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, during a postmaintenance operational check flight and while on final approach for landing, the fuel pressure indicator light illuminated, and the engine "flamed out." The pilot lowered the collective to initiate an autorotation; however, due to the low altitude and airspeed, the helicopter subsequently landed hard and rolled over. During a postaccident examination of the wreckage, a main fuel supply line B-nut fitting was found without the safety wire, and the nut was loose when turned by hand. Before the accident flight, the line had been disconnected during a task to replace the bidirectional suspension cross-bar assembly, and the accident flight was the first flight since the task was performed. According to the noncertificated maintenance technician who performed the task, the line was removed to defuel the fuel tank, which was contrary to manufacturer's maintenance manual instructions. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the B-nut fitting was not properly tightened and safety-wired during reassembly, which allowed it to back off due to normal engine vibration and resulted in the interruption of the fuel flow during flight.
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 engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Autorotation Hard landing defining event
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of manual › Maintenance personnel
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,157 hours in all; 537 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,321 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 1, 2014; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,350 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Aerial 2B1 (turboshaft); 8,539 hours total
- Operator: Papillon Airways Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KBVU Boulder City NV at 10:57 pm
- Destination: KBVU Boulder City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 2,166 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from KBVU
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.
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.