# Accident 20240305000739A: American Eurocopter Corp AS350B3, Fort Morgan, CO, March 5, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 5, 2024, 15:35 local time
- Place: Fort Morgan, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: M3XA
- Location: 40.2497° N, 103.7960° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2497&lon=-103.7960&mi=10
- Aircraft: N853MB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N853MB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Eurocopter AS350B3 (registry code 1145004, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-eurocopter-as350b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2D (registry code 60080, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA129) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240305000739A

## Narrative

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

03/05/2024 15.35 MST, FORT MORGAN, CO, AS350C3, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^FLIGHT, SUSTAINED BIRD STRIKE CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO BREAK OUT FORCING SOFT LANDING @ FORT MORGAN - OFF HIGHWAY 52 AND COUNTY ROAD T.5 JUST NORTH OF THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER. PILOT AND TWO FLIGHT NURSES WERE ABOARD AT THE TMIE. PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURY TO HIS FACE, THE NURSES WERE NOT INJURED.

THE CANOPY SHATTERED DURING THE BIRD STRIKE AND PARTS OF THE CANOPY IMPACTED THE ROTOR BLADES CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE BLADES.

THE OERATOR IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE THREE BLADES, PILOT'S WINDSHIELD AND PERFORMING AN MAJOR IMPACT INSPECTION. NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN24LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA129), Mar 5, 2024: American Eurocopter AS350B3 (N853MB), Fort Morgan, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inflight collision with birds while on approach.

## Other reports on N853MB (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20250131000219I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250131000219I), Jan 31, 2025: American Eurocopter Corp AS350B3 (N853MB), Greeley, CO, Minor damage. A night helicopter air ambulance flight experienced a bird strike. There was minor damage to a main rotor blade, the empanage/vertical stabilizer and a tail…

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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