No fatalities

AIRBUS HELICOPTERS AS350 B3 accident at Sanford, FL, 27 Jun 2024

Sanford, FL, United States

On June 27, 2024, an AIRBUS HELICOPTERS AS350 B3 operated by SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE was involved in an aviation accident near Sanford, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The helicopter pilot’s improper maneuvering at low altitude in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the helicopter entering a vortex ring state, and hard landing during a subsequent autorotation. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1785761257Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The helicopter pilot’s improper maneuvering at low altitude in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the helicopter entering a vortex ring state, and hard landing during a subsequent autorotation.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotResponse/compensation