The Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil is a single-engine light helicopter originally designed and manufactured
in France by Aérospatiale. In North America, the AS350 is marketed as the AStar. The AS355
Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engine variant marketed in North America as the TwinStar. The Eurocopter
EC130 is a derivative of the AS350 airframe and is considered to be part of the Écureuil
single-engine family.
Design and development Development began in the early 1970s to replace
the Aérospatiale Alouette II, and the first flight took place on 27 June 1974. Despite
the introduction of the EC130, production of the Eurocopter AS350 remains strong.
The Helicópteros do Brasil subsidiary of Eurocopter signed a contract for a major upgrade
program on the Brazilian Army’s fleet of 36 AS350 Ecureuils.
Operational history On May 14, 2005 an AS350 B3 piloted by Eurocopter
test pilot Didier Delsalle touched down on the top of Mt. Everest, at 8,848 m. This
record has been confirmed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
On April 29, 2010 a stripped-down AS350 B3 succeeded in rescuing three alpinists from
Annapurna I, Nepal at 8,091 metres, one at a time, the highest such rescue.
Variants
AS350 Prototype.
AS350 Firefighter Fire fighting version.
AS350B Powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1B engine.
AS350 B1 Improved version of the original AS350B, which
is powered by one Arriel 1D engine, type also fitted with AS355 main rotor blades, AS355
tail rotor with tabs and a tail rotor servo. AS350 B2
Higher gross weight version powered by one Arriel 1D1 engine over the B1 version with
aerodynamic strake fitted to tail boom along the starboard side and angled engine exhaust
duct for better yaw control. AS350 B3
High-performance version, is powered by an Arriel 2B engine equipped with a single channel
Digital Engine Control Unit with a mechanical backup system. This helicopter is the first
ever to land on the summit of Mount Everest. AS350 B3/2B1 variant introduces enhanced engine
with dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control, dual hydraulics and a 2,370 kg Maximum
Take Off Weight. AS350 B3e equipped with the Arriel 2D engine.
AS350 BA Powered by a Arriel 1B engine and fitted with
wider chord AS355 main rotor blades and tail rotor servo.
AS350 BB AS350 B2 variant selected to meet rotary-wing
training needs of UK MoD, through its Defence Helicopter Flying School in 1996. Powered
by a derated Arriel 1D1 engine to improve the helicopters' life cycle.
Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1 Designation of AS350BB in operation with British
RAF as a training helicopter. Eurocopter Squirrel HT.2
Designation of AS350BB in operation with British Army Air Corps as a training helicopter.
AS350 C Initial variant of Lycoming LTS-101-600A2
powered version developed for the North American market as the AStar. Quickly superseded by
AS350D. AS350 D
Powered by one Lycoming LTS-101 engine for the North American market as the AStar. At
one stage marketed as AStar 'Mark III.' AS350 L1
Military derivative of AS350 B1, powered by a 510kW Turbomeca Arriel 1D turboshaft engine.
Superseded by AS350 L2. AS350 L2
Military derivative of AS350 B2, powered by a 546kW Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turboshaft engine.
Designation superseded by AS550 C2. HB350 B Esquilo
Unarmed military version for the Brazilian Air Force. Brazilian designations CH-50 and
TH-50. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
HB350 B1 Esquilo Unarmed military version for the Brazilian
Navy. Brazilian designation UH-12. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
HB350 L1 Armed military version for the Brazilian Army.
Brazilian designation HA-1. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
Aftermarket conversions Soloy Super D1
AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine. Soloy Super D2
AS350 B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine. Heli-Lynx 350FX1
AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine. Heli-Lynx 350FX2
AS350 BA or AS350 B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine.
Otech AS350BA+ AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine.
Operators
The AS350 is in service around the world operated by private individuals, airline and charter
operators, emergency medical teams, governments and law enforcement agencies.
Military and government operators
Argentina Argentine National Gendarmerie
Buenos Aires Province Police Australia
Royal Australian Navy Bolivia
Bolivian Air Force Botswana
Botswana Defence Force Air Wing Brazil
Brazilian Air Force Brazilian Navy
Canada Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Central African Republic Central African Republic Air Force
Chile Chilean Army
Ecuador Ecuadorian Army
France National Gendarmerie
Gabon Gabonese Air Force
Iceland Icelandic Coast Guard
Jordan Royal Jordanian Air Force
Malawi Malawi Army Air Wing
Mali Mali Air Force
Pakistan Pakistan Army Aviation Corps
Paraguay Paraguayan Air Force
Paraguayan Naval Aviation Russia
Ministry of Defence South Africa
South African Police Service United Kingdom
Defence Helicopter Flying School United States
Customs and Border Protection Los Angeles Police Department
Baltimore County Police Department Notable achievements and accidents
On 14 May 2005, a Ecureuil AS350B3 piloted by Didier Delsalle landed at about 8,848 meters
on the top of the Mount Everest. As required by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale,
the aircraft remained on the summit longer than 2 minutes before returning to Lukla.
He actually landed on the summit two times. He only needed to land for two minutes to
officially set the record, but he stayed for about four minutes twice. The flight set rotorcraft
world records, for highest of both landing and take-off. Delsalle also rescued two Japanese
climbers at 4,877 meters, and one climber noted that the flight meant a better chance
of rescue, though the pilot mentioned "The thought of rescuing climbers was one of the
things that motivated me to do this project. But the forces I encountered were so powerful
that to guarantee a safe flight you'd have to design a more powerful copter".
On 14 December 2004 an AS350-B3 medical transport helicopter operated by Air Evac of Arizona
crashed on final approach while attempting to land on an emergency scene in Apache Junction,
Arizona. Flight Medic Doreen Renee Johnson, 26, was killed on impact. The pilot Susanna
Corcoles and Flight Nurse Kelly Foster-Stopka sustained serious but non life-threatening
injuries. On 27 July 2007, two AS350s collided in mid-air
while reporting a police pursuit. The two helicopters were part of KNXV-TV and KTVK
television stations in Phoenix, Arizona. Four crew members were killed by this accident.
On 15 September 2007, former World Rally Championship driver Colin McRae and three passengers were
killed when his AS350 B2 Squirrel, which he was piloting, crashed near Lanark, Scotland.
On 8 August 2009, a Piper PA-32R collided with an AS350 over the Hudson River, with
both aircraft crashing into the Hudson River. There were no survivors from the crash.
On 10 June 2012, an AS350 B3e belonging to the Kenya Police Air Wing crashed in Kibiku
area in Ngong Forest, west of Nairobi, Kenya killing at least six people, including Kenya's
Interior Security Minister George Saitoti and his deputy Orwa Ojode.
On 31 March 2013, an AS350 B3 Astar belonging to the Alaska State Troopers crashed near
Talkeetna Alaska killing all three aboard. The helicopter, piloted by Mel Nading, 55,
of Anchorage, was on a rescue mission to recover injured snowmobiler Carl Ober, 56, of Talkeetna.
The crash also claimed the life of Alaska State Trooper Tage Toll, a former Kansas state
highway patrolman. On 22 October 2013, an AS350 B3 medical transport
helicopter operated by Memphis, Tennessee based Hospital Wing crashed near Somerville,
Tennessee while en route to Bolivar, Tennessee. Three personnel onboard were killed in the
accident. On 18 March 2014, an AS350 B2 owned by Helicopters
Inc. and being used as a temporary replacement by KOMO-TV and KING-TV in Seattle, Washington
crashed across the street from the Fisher Plaza while attempting to take off from the
rooftop of the studios of KOMO. The two people on board, pilot Gary Pfitzner and photographer
Bill Strothman, were killed. The sole occupant of a passenger car onto which the helicopter
fell was severely burned and taken to Harborview Medical Center. Two additional vehicles caught
fire from the burning fuel, but the drivers escaped injury. According to eyewitnesses
and security camera recordings, the helicopter yawed 360 degrees and pitched down while attempting
to lift off the helipad. On 9 April 2014, a new AS350 B3E in medical
service owned by Petroleum Helicopters Inc. crashed departing the rooftop helipad at University
of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot and two medical crew members
survived. Eyewitnesses reported the aircraft rose 25 to 30 feet from the helipad and pitched
to the right, coming to rest with the tail over the edge of the roof, with the cabin,
largely intact, on its right side. On 7 June 2014, a Helibrás HB-350BA crashed
after takeoff, in Aruanã, Goiás state, Brazil. All on board died, including retired soccer
player Fernandão. Specifications
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000
General characteristics Crew: 1
Capacity: 5 Length: 10.93 m
Rotor diameter: 10.7 m Height: 3.14 m
Disc area: 89.75 m² Empty weight: 1,174 kg
Max. takeoff weight: 2,250 kg Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft,
632 kW Performance
Never exceed speed: 287 km/h Cruise speed: 245 km/h
Range: 662 km Endurance: 4.1 hrs
Service ceiling: 4,600 m Rate of climb: 8.5 m/s
Avionics Vehicle and Engine Monitoring Display with
First Limit Indicator fitted as standard. † 4, 5, & 6 passengers options available.
The 6 passenger configuration is a relatively uncommon high-density seating option that
replaces one front seat with a two person bench and the pilot relocated to the left
side of the cockpit. See also
Related development Eurocopter AS355
Eurocopter AS550 Fennec Eurocopter EC130
Changhe Z-11 Aircraft of comparable role, configuration
and era MD Helicopters MD 500
Bell 407 PZL SW-4
Related lists List of active United Kingdom military aircraft
References
Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International. Vol 180 No 5321, 13–19
December 2011. pp. 26–52. Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft
& Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.
External links Eurocopter's AS350 B2 page
Eurocopter's AS350 B3 page