Preliminary Report: Airbus AS 350 B3 Helicopter Ground Contact Near Valle Nevado

Incident Overview and Location On August 5, 2025, at 10:44 local time, an Airbus AS 350 B3 helicopter made contact with the ground in the mountainous sector of Valle Nevado, Lo Barnechea, in Chile's Metropolitan Region. The site was located 3.07 nautical miles southeast of Valle Nevado, at coordinates 33° 22' 51.0 South, 70° 11' 40.99 West, with an elevation of 3,670 meters (12,040 feet). ## Flight Details and Occupants The helicopter was operated by a commercial helicopter pilot and carried three passengers. The flight originated from the Valle Nevado sector for a heliski operation in the cordillera area. During the approach to the passenger drop-off point, the aircraft contacted the terrain and came to rest on a mountainside. ## Casualties and Aircraft Condition All four occupants—the pilot and three passengers—were uninjured. The helicopter sustained damage. At the time of the preliminary report, the aircraft remained at the accident site pending coordination with the operator to assess the extent of the damage. ## Aircraft Information The aircraft was an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3, serial number 8496, manufactured in 2018. It had 2,483.6 hours of service. Certified weights included an empty weight of 1,461.0 kg and a maximum takeoff weight of 2,800.0 kg. The last inspection was conducted on July 28, 2025, at 2,475.1 hours of service. ## Investigation Status The investigation, conducted by the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil's accident prevention department, was in the data collection and analysis phase. The objective is to determine the cause of the incident and develop safety recommendations for this type of aircraft.