Mary F. Silitch

Eurocopter AS 350B3, Yellow Pine, Idaho, Aug. 13, 2006–The NTSB determined that the U.S. Forest Service contract pilot’s intentional low-altitude flight and his failure to maintain an adequate altitude to clear the trees was the cause of the crash of the AS 350, which killed all four on board. The helicopter, which was transporting a relief fire lookout to a tower on Williams Peak, hit a 90-foot-tall, dead, defoliated tree as it flew over a mountain ridgeline. The power turbine’s blades were found sheared from their disc, indicating overspeed, consistent with a main rotor blade strike/sudden stoppage.
Four maintenance crewmembers who were assigned to the helicopter said the pilot liked to do “showy” flying and would “buzz” a ridge every now and then. He would perform a maneuver he called the “sleigh ride,” described as topping a ridge then dropping the collective, and dropping the nose…“It was a common maneuver for him,” one witness said.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Final Report: U.S. Forest Service AS 350 collided with trees

Eurocopter AS 350B3, Yellow Pine, Idaho, Aug.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Vehicle also struck parked ground-support tractor; there were no injuries

Teen Driver Breaches Fence, Hits PlaneSense PC-12 at KPSM

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

Remembering a Solemn Anniversary: the Amazon Midair 

David Jack Kenny

Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: September 2026

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

More In Accidents

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

Teen Driver Breaches Fence, Hits PlaneSense PC-12 at KPSM

Vehicle also struck parked ground-support tractor; there were no injuries

NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

Remembering a Solemn Anniversary: the Amazon Midair

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: September 2026

Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

NTSB Cites Heliport Misidentification in Aug. 2025 Crash

Captain opted out of instrument approach over autopilot concerns

Fire of Unknown Origin Led to 2024 Citation X Accident

NTSB: Ignition source could not be conclusively identified

NTSB: Bell 206L Damage Caused by Aeroelastic Interaction

Helicopter experienced a vertical hop for which the pilot didn’t know the recovery procedure

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN