Eurocopter AS 350 B3 — registry & accident history
Compiled from FAA & NTSB records · as of Jul 18, 2026
There are 267 Eurocopter AS 350 B3 airframes on record (built 1998–2013), 167 currently registered. 30 have one or more NTSB accident records (34 records total, 5 with a fatal highest-injury classification). Data as of Jul 18, 2026.
Recent Eurocopter AS 350 B3 accidents
The pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.
The pilot’s inadvertent entanglement of a lightweight Kevlar long line into the helicopters operating main rotor system, resulting in a severe imbalance and separation of the main rotor gearbox.
The ground crew’s failure to remain clear of a tag line during sling load operations, resulting in his entanglement.
The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a hover taxi due to distraction resulting from the unanticipated activation of strobing lights while using night vision googles.
The fuelers improper action during the refueling process.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from ground equipment during landing.
The buckling of the tail boom as a result of a hard landing event of undetermined time and location.
The pilot’s failure to adequately respond to an encounter with whiteout conditions, which resulted in the helicopter’s collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the (1) operator’s inadequate pilot training program and pilot competency checks, which failed to evaluate pilot skill during an encounter with inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions, and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration principal operations inspector’s insufficient oversight of the operator, including their approval of the operator’s pilot training program without ensuring that it met requirements. Contributing to the severity of the surviving passenger’s injuries was the delayed notification of search and rescue organizations.