Eurocopter AS 350 B3 accident near San Diego, California, May 24, 2023
On May 24, 2023 at about 5:10 am local time, a 2007 Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (helicopter), registered N791AM, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near San Diego, California (Brown Fld Muni airport). It was a public-use flight (federal) under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a hover taxi due to distraction resulting from the unanticipated activation of strobing lights while using night vision googles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2023 · about 5:10 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Brown Fld Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B3, built 2007 · all AS 350 B3s on the register
- Registration
- N791AM · registry record · serial 4335
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the helicopter reported that he had completed an operational mission, during which he was wearing Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), and returned to the airport. While hover taxiing to parking using the NVGs, an aircraft approaching the airport to land triggered the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), causing the helicopter’s strobing “wig-wag” lights to activate and impact the pilot’s visibility. The pilot looked down to locate the light switch and removed his hand from the collective to deactivate the lights. The helicopter descended and contacted the ground before the pilot could stop the descent. The helicopter subsequently became airborne again and the pilot was able to regain control and continue hover taxiing to parking. Substantial damage to the tail boom was discovered after the flight. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Loss of control in flight during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Bright light › Response/compensation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,900 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 23 in the last 30 days; 560 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 20, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,388 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 914 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 30, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,500 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, April 28, 2023; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,225 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 2B1 (turboshaft); 7,721 hours total
- Operator: US Department Of Homeland Security
The flight
- Runway 26R, 7,972 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KSDM, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSDM 240453Z AUTO 26006KT 10SM OVC014 14/12 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP140 T01440117
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 20, 2023. 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, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | 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.