No fatalities

EUROCOPTER AS332L1 accident at Azusa, CA, 20 Mar 2022

Azusa, CA, United States

On March 20, 2022, an EUROCOPTER AS332L1 operated by COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES was involved in an aviation accident near Azusa, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree after encountering brownout conditions and a loss of visual reference during the approach to land. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree after encountering brownout conditions and a loss of visual reference during the approach to land.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on operation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Mar 2022 EUROCOPTER AS332L1 accident near Azusa, CA?

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree after encountering brownout conditions and a loss of visual reference during the approach to land.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Mar 2022 EUROCOPTER AS332L1 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Mar 2022 involved an EUROCOPTER AS332L1, operated by COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, at Azusa, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree after encountering brownout conditions and a loss of visual reference during the approach to land.