American Eurocopter AS350B3 accident near Silver City, New Mexico, October 27, 2020
On October 27, 2020 at about 5:37 am local time, a 2008 American Eurocopter AS350B3 (helicopter), registered N530H, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Silver City, New Mexico (Whiskey Creek Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude above terrain while operating in reduced visibility due to snow showers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2020 · about 5:37 am local time
- Place
- Silver City, New Mexico · Whiskey Creek Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Eurocopter AS350B3, built 2008
- Registration
- N530H · registry record · serial 4553
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to relocate the helicopter to a hangar at a nearby airport before a winter storm impacted the area. The pilot took off in moderate visual meteorological conditions and moderate rain; but as the helicopter neared the airport, the precipitation turned from rain to snow. The pilot turned final about 1 mile north of the airport when the precipitation increased, and the visibility reduced. The helicopter impacted terrain about 200 yards north of the runway surface in a mostly level attitude before it rolled onto its left side. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Snow › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 1,956 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 4,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 16, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,706 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 26, 2020; 175 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,225 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 (turboshaft); 3,745 hours total
- Operator: Air Methods CORP
The flight
- Departed from: NM85 Silver City NM at 5:34 pm
- Destination: 94E Silver City NM
- Runway 17, 5,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft; clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 11:37 pm from SVC, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | On Scene Photos - Courtesy of Local Law Enforcement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.