Airbus Helicopters AS350 accident near Sanford, Florida, June 27, 2024
On June 27, 2024 at about 7:34 pm local time, a 2023 Airbus Helicopters AS350, registered N174SC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Sanford, Florida (Orlando Sanford International airport). It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The helicopter pilot’s improper maneuvering at low altitude in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the helicopter entering a vortex ring state, and hard landing during a subsequent autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2024 · about 7:34 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Orlando Sanford International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters AS350 B3, built 2023 · all AS350s on the register
- Registration
- N174SC · no longer on the register · serial 9349
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As part of a law enforcement simulation exercise, the helicopter pilot was orbiting near the departure airport between 200 to 300 ft above ground level, at 20 to 40 knots indicated airspeed. The pilot described that while the helicopter was in a left orbit the airspeed decreased to near 0. At that time, the helicopter began to descend in a vortex ring state (VRS). Due to the low altitude, the pilot was not able to recover from VRS and entered an autorotation to a grass area on the airport. The helicopter subsequently landed hard and came to rest upright in the grass area resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter’s tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter.
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
- Autorotation Hard landing
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 979 hours in all; 934 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 912 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 16, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 402.1 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 17, 2024; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,225 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Safran ARRIEL 2D (turboshaft); 402 hours total
- Operator: Seminole County Sheriffs Office
The flight
- Departed from: SFB Sanford FL at 7:16 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 3:49 pm from SFB, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSFB 271949Z 29011G20KT 10SM TS FEW055 SCT080 BKN100 32/22 A2988 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS TSB43
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 25, 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 | Pilot Written Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigation Photograph | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | 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.