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CEN24LA129

2024-03-05 · Fort Morgan, Colorado, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N853MB

Make / Model
AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3
Year of manufacture
2012 · 12 years old at event
Engine
TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2D (802 hp)
Seats / Engines
7 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20120310
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ABB392

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

An inflight collision with birds while on approach.

Factual 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on equipment
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Ability to respond/compensate

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_CEN24LA129.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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