Aérospatiale AS 350BA Ecureuil (Squirrel)

Aérospatiale AS 350BA Ecureuil (Squirrel)

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08/31/2007. This helicopter was produced in 1981 as an AS 350B. On April 4, 1994, while owned and operated by Turbowest Helicopters, the helicopter was substantial damaged.

Transferring a patient from an accident site to a ground vehicle for transport to a hospital, the helicopter lost suddenly power. The pilot made a "run on" autorotation and landing in the only available clearing, struck some tress and made a sliding impact with the ground. By the time the helicopter came to rest on its left side, a large section of the tail boom, vertical fin, and tail rotor assembly was torn off. The pilot and the flight engineer escaped unharmed, the patient had no additional injuries to his dislocated knee.

The helicopter was rebuilt to an AS 350BA, indicating it was fitted with transmission and rotor blades of the twin-engined AS 355, increasing the takeoff gross weight from 4,300 lb (1,950 kg) to 4,630 lb (2,100 kg). On October 6, 2000, it was sold to Heli-Horizon.


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08/31/2007. This helicopter was produced in 1981 as an AS 350B. On April 4, 1994, while owned and operated by Turbowest Helicopters, the helicopter was substantial damaged. Transferring a patient from an accident site to a ground vehicle for transport to a hospital, the helicopter lost suddenly power. The pilot made a "run on" autorotation and landing in the only available clearing, struck some tress and made a sliding impact with the ground. By the time the helicopter came to rest on its left side, a large section of the tail boom, vertical fin, and tail rotor assembly was torn off. The pilot and the flight engineer escaped unharmed, the patient had no additional injuries to his dislocated knee. The helicopter was rebuilt to an AS 350BA, indicating it was fitted with transmission and rotor blades of the twin-engined AS 355, increasing the takeoff gross weight from 4,300 lb (1,950 kg) to 4,630 lb (2,100 kg). On October 6, 2000, it was sold to Heli-Horizon.