6-Mar-2013Source: American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter continues to lead the U.S. airborne law enforcement market, maintaining a 55 percent market share over the last decade with a product line that has become the industry standard. With 280 Eurocopter aircraft operating in federal, state and local law enforcement units, operators cite reliability, versatility and cost effectiveness as key factors in... Read more
6-Mar-2013Source: American Eurocopter
Many times each day, a call goes out somewhere in the United States for a helicopter to provide emergency airlift for a critically injured or ill patient. More often than not, a Eurocopter helicopter sold and supported by American Eurocopter answers the call. As Heli-Expo 2013 begins, American Eurocopter can proudly say that in 2012... Read more
5-Mar-2013Source: Eurocopter Canada
With the recent certification of the 2nd Battery Installation for the EC130 B4 and the Cable Cutter installation for the AS350, Eurocopter Canada Limited (ECL) has increased the range of kitted Supplemental Type Certificates (STC’s) for Eurocopter’s AS350, EC130 and EC120 product range. With the 2nd battery installation on the EC130, operators can benefit from... Read more
5-Mar-2013Source: DART Aerospace
DART Aerospace today announced that in collaboration with PallCorporation (NYSE:PLL) it will shortly initiate flight testing of a next-gen advanced engine air filtration system for AS350 and EC130 helicopter models equipped with Arriel engines. The new AS350/EC130 Advanced Engine Air Filtration System will provide the highest level of helicopter air inlet protection to enhance engine... Read more
22-Feb-2013
Crashed close to buildings. Pilot Mark Montgomery and crew member Chris Denning killed, third crew member Billy Wynn is critical. (names were released here) Two explosions after the helicopter crash landed in upright position. Completely burnt out in post-crash fire.... Read more
18-Feb-2013Source: Simplex
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has completed the validation of the Model 510 FAA STC. On February 8th, the Simplex Model 510 powerline insulator and windmill cleaning and de-icing system was granted EASA certification (EASA # 10043539) for installation and operation on AS 350 and AS 355 series aircraft. Simplex received an FAA STC... Read more
15-Feb-2013
Ground vehicle skidded on ice and ran into parked helicopter, causing significant damage. CADAORS ref 2013Q0397... Read more
7-Feb-2013
Firefighting helicopter collided with terrain. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Helicopter was contracted to Tasmania Fire Service... Read more
5-Feb-2013
Pilot chose to make precautionary landing due to deteriorating weather. Helicopter rolled over when landing on snowy surface... Read more
3-Feb-2013
Training accident. Two of three on board injured. CADAORS ref 2013Q0276... Read more
29-Jan-2013
Precautionary landing in park after oil pressure warning... Read more
28-Jan-2013
Emergency landing after fuel indication dropped to zero with rotor speed warning. Apparent wiring issue... Read more
18-Jan-2013Source: Cobham
Cobham has been granted Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for its HeliSAS™ Stability Augmentation System and Autopilot by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). STC #10049171 allows installation of HeliSAS on a significant new range of Eurocopter helicopters, including: AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, D, and EC130B4 models across the European Union. With more than... Read more
17-Jan-2013
Pilot lost visual reference when landing on a snowy surface. Heavy landing, damaged skids and tail boom... Read more
7-Jan-2013Source: Becker Avionics
Becker Avionics announced today that Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in California, selected the Becker DVCS6100 digital airborne audio control panel system to upgrade their four Eurocopter AS350 multi-mission helicopters and single Cessna 182P surveillance fixed wing platform. During the next few months the Riverside Air Unit aircraft will undergo avionics upgrades, to include Becker’s Digital... Read more
4-Jan-2013
Force landing on highway... Read more
2-Jan-2013
Very heavy field landing of an EMS helicopter – helicopter was headed from Seminole Airport to the Creek Nation Community Hospital in Okemah. Skids collapsed, main blades sliced tail boom. All four POB injured, noting that no patient was on board.... Read more
1-Jan-2013Source: Air Methods
Air Methods Corporation (NASDAQ: AIRM), the global leader in air medical transportation, announced today that it has entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Sundance Helicopters, Inc. (Sundance), a helicopter tour operator based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sundance is a leader in helicopter tour... Read more
29-Dec-2012
Crashed into the sea while trying to rescue a swimmer – helicopter had approached to a low hover and then appears to suddenly lose height into the water (see YouTube video)... Read more
29-Dec-2012
Helicopter fell onto its side after pilot aborted take-off... Read more
18-Dec-2012
Bird strike – turkey vulture broke windshield and injured pilot – the only person on board. Safe landing in a parking lot... Read more
15-Dec-2012
Collision with trees during load lift operation. Pilot injured. CADAORS ref 2012P2046... Read more
13-Dec-2012Source: Helibras
[electronic translation] The workshop Helibras located on the Champ de Mars, in São Paulo, received a certification from the Directorate of Army Aviation Material (DMAvEx), sectoral support body responsible for managing the helicopters Avex, to perform repairs and inspections on airframe AS350 and AS550 L1 military A2, and maintenance and repair of aircraft equipment supplied... Read more
11-Dec-2012
Flight aimed at demonstrating a landing with hydraulic failure. With the hydraulic control was disconnected, the pilot made the approach to the runway, and attempted to make a vertical landing (zero speed with the helicopter hovering). With the aircraft hovering, the pilot lost control of the helicopter, and the tail boom hit the ground. The... Read more
5-Dec-2012Source: DART Helicopter Services
DART Helicopter Services is pleased to announce their receipt Mexican approval (DGAC) for Vertical Reference Floor Window Kits fitted for AS350 and AS355 series of helicopters. The DART Vertical Reference Floor Window Kits are available in three sizes to fit various operational requirements. You can now look through the floor window with ease for vertical... Read more
5-Dec-2012
Heli Trans AS350 took off from Lübeck in Germany, destination Halmstad in Sweden, but did not arrived at the expected time. 2 POB – Heli Trans pilot and a passenger who was not one of their employees.... Read more
25-Nov-2012
Azur Helicopter and its Chairman were found guilty on 10th October of “manslaughter by breach of an obligation of safety or prudence.”. This week they have been given a fine of €80,000 (see full story). The accident is in the HeliHub.com accident database at 20-Jun-09 F-GTRF Eurocopter AS350B2 Mount Cordon, France (7F)... Read more
23-Nov-2012
Tail boom damaged in off airport landing... Read more
22-Nov-2012
1 killed (named here as Lance Valdez) and 4 injured including billionaire Jeffery Soffer, Dan and Paula Riordan and an unnamed pilot... Read more
20-Nov-2012
Helicopter was involved in low-level aerial work to drop rabies vaccines for foxes as part of a Health Authority program. AS350BA crashed into field close to houses after hitting high voltage cables, killing both occupants – pilot Silvio Botto Steglia, 37, and Felice Faivano, 35. Two houses damaged (see photo essay). Some local reports cite... Read more
7-Nov-2012
Emergency landing in field. No damage... Read more
31-Oct-2012
During take off phase, near miss with landing Japan Air Commuter Dash-8 JA849C... Read more
31-Oct-2012
Loss of control during takeoff after refuelling and ended up on its starboard side. Badly damaged... Read more
31-Oct-2012
Heavy landing and ended up colliding with firefighting equipment that was in the area. The helicopter sustained serious damage to its tail rotor, to the right hand side baggage compartment, and to both landing skids.... Read more
23-Oct-2012Source: Wysong Enterprises
Wysong Enterprises (Wysong) announced today from the Air Medical Transport Conference in Seattle that they have completed their 5th EMS Equipped Bell 407 this year and signed contracts for four more 407 aircraft completions this week. In addition to the 407s, Wysong also will begin work on another EMS Eurocopter AS-350 in January. “We are... Read more
21-Oct-2012
LA County Sheriff made emergency landing on highway after a bird strike at night... Read more
20-Oct-2012Source: Kenya Daily News
Royal Media Services has become the first Kenyan media house to acquire a news helicopter – although the AS350 shows no signs of any externally mounted cameras! (see full story)... Read more
16-Oct-2012
Chain sling contacted tail rotor drive cover, horizontal stabiliser and both tail rotor blades during lifting operations... Read more
12-Oct-2012Source: Philips Search & Rescue Trust
Taupo’s rescue helicopter is a well-known sight in the sky. Libby O’Brien found out more about the helicopter’s facelift and the company playing a new role in helping the service take flight They say pigs may fly, but no-one has ever expected a cow to become airborne, let alone play a major part in search... Read more
8-Oct-2012
Hoist cable hitting tail rotor in turbulent weather conditions. Badly damaged... Read more
6-Oct-2012
One of three helicopters fire bombed by terrorists at night while parked on the airfield. All three were on contract to Transportadora de Gas del Peru... Read more
28-Sep-2012Source: American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter, whose wide product line has become the standard for U.S. Airborne Law Enforcement, will feature its AS350 B2 from the Ontario (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit at this year’s International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference Sept. 29-Oct. 3 in San Diego. “The AS350 series has become the helicopter of choice... Read more
28-Sep-2012
Pilot reported tail rotor problems before crashing – the tail rotor was found on the roof of a house “a few hundred metres” from the crash site. While the pilot and one passenger survived, the accident killed textile magnate Joe Habie, one of the richest men in Guatemala... Read more
24-Sep-2012Source: Freedom Aero Service
Freedom Aero Service, Inc. is proud to announce their new repair process FRS-11 for repair of ignition exciter boxes HE900 and HE901, Turbomeca PN’s 9550176020 for model HE901 and 9550164470 for model HE900.Freedom received FAA approval and is pleased to add this service to the HE402F, Turbomeca PN 9560119620 repair process FRS-5 already in place.... Read more
20-Sep-2012
Crashed on night flight. Helicopter was 30 days old with 50 hours on the airframe.... Read more
18-Sep-2012
Helicopter crashed in mountainous region, killing the sole occupant pilot. There was a post-crash fire.... Read more
11-Sep-2012
Tail rotor struck sand bank on take-off.  Substantial damage included the tail rotor, tailboom, tail rotor gearbox, horizontal stabilizer, 1 main rotor blade and the long shaft. CADAORS ref 2012Q2152... Read more
6-Sep-2012Source: Florida Today
Brevard County Commission two weeks ago authorized the $6.8 million deal by a 3-2 vote, after hearing arguments that the county would save money through the purchase because of reduced maintenance costs and greater efficiency in the use of chemicals and fuel. The county expects to sign the contract with American Eurocopter within a few... Read more
1-Sep-2012
Accident caused the deaths of the captain of the aircraft, chief-inspector Tiago Casimiro, his assistant, João Adelino João Brandão, as well as the workers of the Provincial Electoral Commission, Lourenço Mussenoho and Maria Augusta João.... Read more
1-Sep-2012
Tail rotor drive shaft sheared... Read more
31-Aug-2012
Four injured when helicopter came down after hitting cables. The helicopter was involved in maintenance work on the cables. Two were “ejected”, from an underslung cradle, and two were in the helicopter. Pilot Joel Prisse has dislocated shoulder and crew Philippe Pournin has multiple lower limb fractures. Aircraft destroyed... Read more
30-Aug-2012Source: Otago Daily Times
Sister companies Heliworks and Southern Lakes Helicopters will provide “semi-dedicated” Squirrel helicopters equipped with NVG, searchlights, beacon search, extended range capability and winch and long-line retrieval systems. (see full story)... Read more
27-Aug-2012
Emergency landing of media helicopter due to oil leak and heavy smoke flume in the air. Helicopter was operating for KTLA Channel 5. Pilot was Tim Lynn... Read more
25-Aug-2012
Starboard cargo door opened and object fell out and struck tail rotor. Emergency landing made without further incident. Helicopter fitted with SpacePod cargo doors.... Read more
20-Aug-2012
Came down suddenly short of intended landing point while on approach on a training flight. Student Edvaldo Francisco dos Santos (a Major in the Military Police), 46, suffered a fractured spine, and flight instructor John Bosco da Cunha, 62, a fractured right tibia.... Read more
18-Aug-2012
Main driveshaft failure in low level hover... Read more
11-Aug-2012
Crashed from low level (approx 15m) after hitting a tree. Aircraft destroyed... Read more
11-Aug-2012
While firefighting, refilling hose struck trees and then swung up into main rotors and the tail boom. Extensively damaged.... Read more
9-Aug-2012
Detail to follow – CADAORS 2012C3400... Read more
9-Aug-2012
Pilot had left the rotors to run down and departed the helicopter. “Blades seen to begin oscillating, striking the tail boom and the ground beside the helicopter”... Read more
8-Aug-2012
Crashed near the beach at Porto Seguro, reportedly due to pilot Ruan Oliveira Santana, 31, losing control in heavy winds. Pilot and five passengers all got out OK – named as Rogério Andrade, 47, RaÃssa Aguiar, 19, and three children. Photos here... Read more
30-Jul-2012Source: UTair
UTair Aviation has attracted financing from British bank HSBC on a security of French insurance agency COFACE. The deal presupposes delivery of 19 new Eurocopter AS 350/355 helicopters. The airline already operates five helicopters of this type. By the end of 2012 UTair will operate another four helicopters, while in 2013 the airline will take... Read more
27-Jul-2012Source: Commercial Appeal
Memphis Police have a fleet of three Bell 206 JetRangers an a Eurocopter AS350. Each is currently grounded by a maintenance requirement (see full story)... Read more
27-Jul-2012Source: HeliWagon
HeliWagonTM has delivered a new HeliWagon to the Erie County Sherriff’s department. “I saw one of the HeliWagon’s demonstrated at ALEA and I knew we needed one,†said Erie County Sherriff’s Department Captain Kevin Caffery. “Our tug needed replacing, our trailer needed refurbishing and I did the math. When I saw the HeliWagon it was a... Read more
21-Jul-2012
Struck wires at low level while spraying and ended up upside-down on roof of building.... Read more
21-Jul-2012
Extensive vibration in the cruise led to emergency landing. Tail rotor bearing issue... Read more
13-Jul-2012Source: American Eurocopter
Introduced at last year’s ALEA convention, American Eurocopter’s Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Condition (IIMC) training course is an advanced safety innovation for helicopter operators of all models and missions. The course utilizes American Eurocopter’s AS350 Level B Full-Motion Flight & Mission Training Simulator to introduce pilots to the intense challenges of an IIMC encounter and the... Read more
11-Jul-2012Source: Dart Helicopter Services
AKV Inc an affiliated partner of DART Helicopter Services is pleased to announce receipt of Transport Canada approval for their new ETM1000 Exceedence and Trend Monitoring System. AKV Inc.’s Exceedence Trend Monitoring System is designed to continuously monitor and record all engine and drive train parameters for values in excess of the airframe and engine operating... Read more
6-Jul-2012
One serious injury after rotor blades hit disembarking passenger – CHP crew member Tony Stanley, who was getting out to help pick up injured hiker Jeremy Kilburn – both were then airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Redding... Read more
4-Jul-2012Source: Ecocopter
[Electronic translation] Among its applications is a navigation system with aeronautical maps, airport information, radio aids, weight balance, video security briefings, and others. Ecocopter again make a difference in service, through the incorporation of iPad2s in their helicopters with the latest technology that allow these tablets. The tool offers a great application platform utility that allows... Read more
4-Jul-2012
Helicopter crashed killing all four occupants shortly after take off from Lensk Airport. Operator UTair named the victims as pilot Gordeychuk Vasily, mechanic Druzenko Ivan and passengers Verezhak Yaroslav and Arthur Popov. Unclear how relevant this is, but UTair have also stopped using Lensk for refuelling as a result of the accident.... Read more
1-Jul-2012
Force landing due to a technical issue on positioning flight back to base after firefighting... Read more
30-Jun-2012
Helicopter crashed into river, killing all four occupants, on a flight from Sedona to Scottsdale. Wreckage located the next day. A later report from KGUN9suggested that authorities had “discovered a severed cable near the crash site and found marks on the rotor blade consistent with hitting a cable”. Fatalities were named as helicopter owner/pilot Raymond... Read more
26-Jun-2012
A blessing and dedication was held Thursday at the Lihu‘e Airport Heliport, officiated by Lady Ipo Kahaunaele-Ferreira of Ke Akua Mana Church. (see full story) The company’s website has a great page on its history – from which the following early photo comes – Jack Harter on the left in this shot standing next to... Read more
19-Jun-2012
During the cruise, the pilot and passenger detected fuel fumes in the cockpit and conducted a precautionary landing. After landing, the helicopter caught fire and was destroyed. Pilot named as Barry Thompson (52) and passenger aged 23... Read more