Eurocopter AS 350 B3 accident near Deer Valley, Arizona, April 17, 2022
On April 17, 2022 at about 5:26 am local time, a 2010 Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (helicopter), registered N808LF, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Deer Valley, Arizona (Deer Valley airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 fuelers improper action during the refueling process.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2022 · about 5:26 am local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Deer Valley, Arizona · Deer Valley · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B3, built 2010 · all AS 350 B3s on the register
- Registration
- N808LF · registry record · serial 4983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the helicopter reported that, he was on the ramp with the engine running to accomplish a rapid refuel. The fueler was attempting to attach the grounding cable to the helicopter and due to the cable not locking, he maneuvered the cable up and down, which then contacted the main rotor blades. The pilot reported he felt a “violent jolt” and immediately shut the engine down. The fueler’s hands were seriously injured. The main rotor blades were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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
- Aircraft servicing event during prior to flight defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,172.4 hours in all; 445.1 in this make and model; 31.1 in the last 90 days; 10.8 in the last 30 days; 7,114 as pilot in command; 6,395.4 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,931 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 14, 2022; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,225 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 (turboshaft); 3,499 hours total
- Operator: Air Methods CORP
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 am from KDVT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 20, 2022. 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 | Crew Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N808LF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N808LF on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Airbus Helicopters AS350 AStar (Écureuil), now H125 893 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Airbus Helicopters 267 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 271 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Phoenix Deer Valley Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,983 since 1982 · 466 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,422 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N808LF 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR22LA154.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.