# Incident 20200412001019I: Airbus Helicopters Inc AS350B3, Tampa, FL, April 12, 2020

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 2020, 22:30 local time
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9475° N, 82.4584° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tampa, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9475&lon=-82.4584&mi=10
- Aircraft: N160CC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS INC AS350B3
- Reported engine: SAFRAN ARRIEL 2D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 964 total, 770 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200412001019I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

N160CC IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT AIRCRAFT THAT WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE SOUTHBOUND, 95 KNOTS AT 1000 FEET MSL, IN THE AREA OF BRUCE B. DOWNS AND FOWLER AVENUE, TAMPA, FL., ENROUTE TO HOME BASE (KVDF).

THE PILOT NOTICED A LOUD BANG IN THE FORWARD AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT, FOLLOWED BY THE AIRCONDITIONER IMMEDIATELY BLOWING WARM, AND DEBRIS AND FEATHERS HITTING HIM IN THE FACE.

THE PILOT CHECKED CAUTIONARY PANEL AND CONTROL INPUTS.  AFTER REDUCING AIRSPEED, THE WIND ENTERING THE COCKPIT WAS TOLERABLE AND THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT CONTINUING APPROXIMATELY 4-5 MILES TO KVDF WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED SAFELY.  UPON LANDING, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD STRUCK A BIRD.  THE BIRD STRUCK THE LOWER RIGHT SECTION OF THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT, BREAKING THROUGH AND LODGING INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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