Accident Sequence
On October 17, 2014, at approximately 1245 mountain daylight time, an Airbus Helicopters AS350B3 helicopter, registration N852BP, operated by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as a public use flight under 14 CFR Part 91, rolled over on its right side during takeoff near Lordsburg, New Mexico. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
According to CBP investigators, the helicopter departed from level terrain. During the takeoff, it drifted backward, and the aft right skid contacted a rock that was embedded in the ground with approximately 10 inches exposed. Following the contact, the helicopter hinged around the rock, the rotor blades struck the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence.
Wreckage Examination
CBP investigators examined the wreckage and found no anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Representatives from Airbus Helicopters downloaded and analyzed data from the Vehicle Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD). All recorded failures were associated with the ground impact, and the parameters did not indicate any preimpact anomalies.
Weather
At 1256, the automated weather observation at Bisbee Douglas International Airport, Douglas/Bisbee, Arizona, located 38 miles west of the accident site, reported calm wind, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 79°F, dew point 39°F, and altimeter setting 30.08 inches of mercury.