Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 accident near Sacramento, California, October 7, 2025
On October 7, 2025 at about 2:05 am local time, a 2021 Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, registered N414RX, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Sacramento, California. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- October 7, 2025 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Sacramento, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, built 2021 · all EC 130 T2s on the register
- Registration
- N414RX · registry record · serial 8909
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 6, 2025, about 1905 Pacific daylight time, an Airbus Helicopters EC-130 T2, N414RX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Sacramento, California. The pilot and flight paramedic sustained serious injuries; the flight nurse succumbed to her injuries 4 days after the accident. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flight. The helicopter departed UC Davis Medical Center Tower II Heliport (3CLO), Sacramento, California, with a planned destination of Mc Clellan Airfield (MCC), Sacramento, California. The flight paramedic reported that shortly after takeoff she noticed the power had gone out and the helicopter was autorotating towards U.S. Route 50. She made a mayday call on the company radio frequency. Subsequently, the helicopter came to rest on its left side in the eastbound lanes of U.S. Route 50, about 1,600 ft north of 3CLO. A main rotor blade ground impression was observed on the residential side of the fence that enclosed the highway. Furthermore, a section of the outer portion of the main rotor blade was discovered embedded in the roof of a detached garage on a residential home located next to the highway. A review of ADS-B data revealed that the total accident flight was about 26 seconds. The data showed the helicopter departed the helipad and climb to a maximum altitude of about 500 ft mean sea level. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter was in descent for the final 11 seconds of the flight. Postaccident examination revealed that the helicopter’s fuselage and main rotor blades sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was recovered and retained for further examination.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Reach Air Medical Services LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 3CLO Sacramento CA
- Destination: MCC Sacramento CA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from KMCC, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMCC 062355Z AUTO 34005KT 10SM CLR 30/06 A2978 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR26FA008.