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| Date: | Monday 12 December 2022 |
| Time: | 18:35 LT |
| Type: |  Airbus Helicopters H130 |
| Owner/operator: | Reach Air Medical Services LLC |
| Registration: | N415RX |
| MSN: | 9130 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2021 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 223 hours |
| Engine model: | SAFRAN ARRIEL 2D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | NW of Yuba City, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Sacramento-McClellan Airfield, CA (MCC/KMCC) |
| Redding Airport, CA (RDD/KRDD) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot in the helicopter reported that, during cruise flight at dusk with night vision goggles on, he encountered a flock of birds at 1,500 ft above ground level. As the pilot initiated a climbing left turn to avoid the birds, he heard a loud bang accompanied by a pain in his left leg. The helicopter then began to vibrate, and the pilot initiated a precautionary landing in a nearby field without further incident. Bird remains were located throughout the pilot side of the cockpit. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the windshield. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while in cruise flight.
Sources:
NTSB WPR23LA066
Location
Media:
Bird strike in cruise at 1,500 ft AGL at dusk.https://t.co/DnQ5Cf8XPP #helicopter #birdstrike #flightsafety #aviationsafety pic.twitter.com/lsORTkxW4W
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) February 18, 2023
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