AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3 near Fort Morgan, CO — 2024-03-05
Final reportCEN24LA129
- Date
- 2024-03-05
- Location
- Fort Morgan, CO, USA
- Aircraft
- AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3
- Registration
- N853MB
- Category
- Helicopter
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Fatalities
- 0
Probable cause
An inflight collision with birds while on approach.
NTSB narrative
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.
NTSB coding
Evidence available
- Photos
- 3 docket documents
Docket documents3
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