Eurocopter AS 350 B2 accident near Madison, Mississippi, October 20, 2013
On October 20, 2013 at about 4:08 pm local time, a 1992 Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (helicopter), registered N911ES, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Madison, Mississippi. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The helicopter's collision with a black vulture during climb to cruise altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2013 · about 4:08 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B2 B2, built 1992 · all AS 350 B2s on the register
- Registration
- N911ES · no longer on the register · serial 2665
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was climbing the helicopter through 1,300 feet when he felt an "explosion" in his face that knocked his visor up and affected both his visibility and crew communications. The pilot was eventually able to get his visor back down and land the helicopter, where it was discovered that both windshields were blown out, the center post and the cabin shell were damaged, the doors were blown open and onboard medical equipment was missing. On the ground, a crewmember stated that just before the event, he had seen a black bird fly toward the helicopter from above and left, but did not have enough time to call it out. Analysis of onboard residual bird feathers and a photograph of the suspect bird carcass indicated that it was a black vulture, which can weigh up to 4.8 pounds.
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 enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Windows › windshield system › Flight compartment windows › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Fuselage main structure › Damaged/degraded
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 770 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 27, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,374 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 18, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 4,960 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Metro Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: 4MS6 Jackson MS at 3:57 pm
- Destination: 5A6 Winona MS
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from KJAN, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on November 27, 2013. 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, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Smithsonian Bird Analysis | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 - Helicopter Damage (Courtesy of Operator) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 - Helicopter Damage (Courtesy of Operator) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 3 - Suspect Bird (Courtesy of Operator) | 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.
Other NTSB records under N911ES the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.