Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 N405TJ
17 February 2025 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 17 February 2025 at about 20:03 local time, a Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 registered N405TJ, operated by Air Methods LLC, was involved in an accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:03
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Nearest airport
- Thomas Jefferson University Ho (9PA8)
- Coordinates
- 39.9333, -75.1500
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2
- Registration
- N405TJ
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2005
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Air Methods LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Abington → Philadelphia
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA25LA129
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
The sUAS operator’s failure to see and avoid a helicopter, resulting in a midair collision between the helicopter and the sUAS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The purpose of the helicopter flight was a medical resupply for a local hospital. According to the pilot of the helicopter, while on final approach to the hospital’s helipad, he heard and felt something impact the upper portion of the helicopter. After the impact sound, the pilot reported seeing a small black object fall down the right side of the windscreen. The pilot continued the approach to the helipad and landed uneventfully. After landing, an inspection of the helicopter revealed one of the main rotor blades sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no signs of bird snarge or feathers to indicate the impact was with a bird. After the accident, small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) operator, who had been operating a sUAS in the area of the accident flight, reported to a Federal Aviation (FAA) office that he had heard a helicopter and attempted to land his sUAS. After the helicopter flew by, he reported that his control station lost contact with the sUAS. An FAA inspector and the sUAS operator were unsuccessful in their subsequent search for the sUAS. Multiple follow up attempts to interview the sUAS operator and to retrieve the flight controller’s datalog were unsuccessful. Based on the available information, the object that impacted the helicopter was likely the operator’s sUAS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 | N405TJ | Air Methods LLC | Substantial |
| Dji AIR 3 | Unknown | - | Unknown |
Other Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep 2023 | Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 | Fargo, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Apr 2006 | Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 | Bonifay, Florida, United States | CJ Systems Aviation Group | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 2025 | Cessna 172 | Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Maule M7 | Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 2025 | Cirrus SR22 | Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Piper PA46 | Elysburg, Pennsylvania, United States | PAD Aviation LLC | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 2025 | Piper PA46-500TP | Lititz, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 28 Sep 2025 | McCaa Robert T AVID/KITFOX FLYER | Oakland, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |