Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil crash near San Pedro Carchá, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

The Ecureuil was flying humanitarian aid in Alta Verapaz following widespread flooding in the department. While delivering food from Cobán to the Sactic farmstead in San Pedro Carchá, the pilot reported sudden vibrations in the rotor while in the hover and made a forced landing. The tail rotor and right horizontal stabiliser were damaged. The investigation concluded that limited information and visibility of the rear fuselage and the areas adjacent to the tail rotor were the likely causes of the tail rotor inadvertently contacting tree branches. Classified as a low-altitude operations occurrence.