Air Ambulance Pilot’s Visor Smashed in Double Bird Strike (Med-Trans Corp Airbus AS3503e / H125 N853MB)
On the afternoon of 5 March 2024 Airbus AS350B3e (H125) helicopter air ambulance N853MB, operated by Med-Trans Corp, suffered a bird strike near its destination at Fort Morgan, Colorado.
The operator reported that:
The aircraft was flying straight with SAS engaged and a 100-200 FPM decent approximately 700-1000 ft AGL. The pilot remembers scanning left for the aircraft and looking forward and seeing two large birds of prey heading at the windshield.
A left turn mitigation was attempted and the medic heard the pilot call out birds, one bird impacted the pilot side window. The second bird is speculated to have hit the rotor blade.
Med-Trans Corp Airbus AS3503e / H125 Air Ambulance N853MB after Bird Strike (Credit: FAA via NTSB)
The pilot had parts of the window hit his chest, face and helmet. The helmet visor was destroyed and the helmet was removed from his head (chin strap was on, but the helmet had a quick release strap that must of been hit).
Pilots Helmet: Med-Trans Corp Airbus AS3503e / H125 Air Ambulance N853MB (Credit: FAA via NTSB)
The pilot side door was opened, speculatively by the pilots helmet.
Despite the damage to the helmet the operator noted the helmet did its job. The pilot suffered only minor injuries.
The impact and resulting wind caused momentary disorientation and the wind made it difficult to see clearly as well as all verbal communication was lost with the pilot.
The pilot did a 270 degree descending left turn to land in an open field. A normal landing, shutdown and egress were performed.
According to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) safety investigation report, issued on 11 July 2024 the birds were identified as red-tail hawks. These typically weighing from 690 to 1,600 g (1.5 to 3.5 lb).
The NTSB determined that in fact:
The birds struck the windscreen and fragments of the windscreen impacted the rotor blades.
MRB Damage: Med-Trans Corp Airbus AS3503e / H125 Air Ambulance N853MB (Credit: FAA via NTSB)
Safety Resources
The European Safety Promotion Network Rotorcraft (ESPN-R) has a helicopter safety discussion group on LinkedIn. You may also find these Aerossurance articles of interest:
- HEMS H145 Bird Strike
- Safety Lessons from a Fatal Helicopter Bird Strike: A fatal accident occurred on 4 Jan 2009 involving Sikorsky S-76C++ N748P of PHI that highlighted a range safety lessons. We also discuss current activity on enhancing bird strike requirements.
- USAF HH-60G Downed by Geese in Norfolk, 7 January 2014
- Swedish Military NOE Helicopter Bird Strike
- Power of Prediction: Foresight and Flocking Birds looks at how a double engine loss due to striking Canada Geese had been predicted 8 years before the US Airways Flight 1549 ditching in the Hudson (which was just days after the Louisiana helicopter accident).
- Final Report Issued on 2008 B737 Bird Strike Accident in Rome
- NTSB Recommendations on JT15D Failure to Meet Certification Bird Strike Requirements
- USAF T-38C Downed by Bird Strike
- AS350B3/H125 Bird Strike with Red Kite
- Big Bustard Busts Blade: Propeller Blade Failure After Bird Strike
- AW169 Birdstrike with a Turkey Vulture
- Dusk Duck: Birdstrike During Air Ambulance Flight
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