American Eurocopter AS350B3 N279AM
9 August 2025 · Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 9 August 2025 at about 01:46 local time, a American Eurocopter AS350B3 registered N279AM, operated by Air Methods LLC, was involved in an accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.
The record
- Date
- at 01:46
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
- Nearest airport
- Memorial Medical Center Helipo (NM77)
- Coordinates
- 32.2920, -106.7365
- Aircraft
- American Eurocopter AS350B3
- Registration
- N279AM
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2009
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Air Methods LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Silver City → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR25LA249
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
On August 8, 2025, about 1946 mountain daylight time, an Airbus AS350 B3, N279AM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The pilot, two crew members and a passenger were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flight. The pilot reported that the flight departed Gila Regional Heliport (NM85) Silver City, New Mexico with a patient, to conduct an air ambulance operation to Memorial Medical Center Heliport (NM77) Las Cruces, New Mexico. The pilot approached the NM77 helipad to a hover. He then performed a pedal turn to the left and the tail rotor contacted a parking sign that was located near the landing zone. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other American Eurocopter AS350B3 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 2025 | American Eurocopter AS350B3 | San Luis, Arizona, United States | US Department of Homeland Security | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 2024 | American Eurocopter AS350B3 | Fort Morgan, Colorado, United States | Med-Trans Corp | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Dec 2024 | American Eurocopter AS350B3 | Potrero, California, United States | Department of Homeland Security | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Oct 2020 | American Eurocopter AS350B3 | Silver City, New Mexico, United States | Air Methods Corp | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Oct 2015 | American Eurocopter AS350B3 | Folsom, California, United States | Placer County Sheriff's Department | No injuries | - |
| 18 May 2014 | American Eurocopter AS350B3 | Peach Springs, Arizona, United States | Papillon Airways Inc | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 2025 | Cessna 182B | Belen, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Nov 2025 | Cameron Balloons Us A-225 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Rainbow Ryders Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Mar 2025 | Robinson R44 II | Hobbs, New Mexico, United States | Flap Air Helicopter Service Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 2025 | Glasflugel STD LIBELLE 201B | Moriarty, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Sep 2025 | Piper PA-23-160 | Santa Teresa, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Oct 2025 | Aerostar RX 8 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |