# NTSB CEN24LA129: American Eurocopter AS350B3, N853MB, Fort Morgan, CO, March 5, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 5, 2024, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Morgan, CO
- Coordinates: 40.249703, -103.79596 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2497&lon=-103.7960&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193909
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA129
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193909/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193909
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA129

## Probable cause

An inflight collision with birds while on approach.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1145004), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1145004), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1145004), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during approach to a hospital helipad, two red-tailed hawks flew into the path of the helicopter and his evasive actions were unsuccessful in avoiding the birds. The birds struck the windscreen and fragments of the windscreen impacted the rotor blades. The pilot made an uneventful landing in a nearby open field. The rotor blades were substantially damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N853MB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N853MB), registered now, S/N 7294, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3
- Registry model: [American Eurocopter AS350B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-eurocopter-as350b3) (registry code 1145004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2d) (registry code 60080, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 7294
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 3731.5
- Engines: Sarfran Arriel 2D 802 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Med-Trans Corp
- Registered owner: Med-Trans Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 23, 2023
- Departed: 98CO, Greeley, CO
- Destination: 0CD1, Fort Morgan, CO
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 3,165 total, 463 in this make and model, 3,052 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KFMM, 5 nm away
- METAR: METAR KFMM 052135Z AUTO 15014G20KT 10SM FEW090 10/M05 A2995 RMK AO2=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20240305000739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240305000739A), Mar 5, 2024: American Eurocopter Corp AS350B3, Fort Morgan, CO, Substantial damage. 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…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193909. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17199379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 865 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17199423&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- FAA birdstrike form (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17199575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20240329083145-Rel.pdf

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.

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