American Eurocopter CORP AS350B3 accident near Fort Morgan, Colorado, March 5, 2024
On March 5, 2024 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 2012 American Eurocopter CORP AS350B3 (helicopter), registered N853MB, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Fort Morgan, Colorado. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight collision with birds while on approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2024 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Morgan, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Eurocopter CORP AS350B3, built 2012
- Registration
- N853MB · registry record · serial 7294
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Birdstrike during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,165 hours in all; 463 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3,052 as pilot in command; 708 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 28, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,731.5 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 23, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 5,225 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Sarfran Arriel 2D (turboshaft); 3,811 hours total
- Operator: Med-Trans CORP
The flight
- Departed from: 98CO Greeley CO at 9:42 pm
- Destination: 0CD1 Fort Morgan CO
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KFMM, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFMM 052135Z AUTO 15014G20KT 10SM FEW090 10/M05 A2995 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Helicopter Canopy Damage
Photograph 2 – Yellow Rotor Blade Damage
Photograph 3 – Pilot’s Helmet DamageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 11, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Birdstrike Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.