The AS350BA was the Australian Defence Force ab initio helicopter trainer for almost 30 years, as well as being used by the RAN for utility and embarked operations during that time. A fantastic aircraft and extremely reliable, despite all the talk on this forum of engine failures and hydraulic disasters waiting to happen. In fact I am unaware of any actual hydraulics or engine failures during its time in military service. Hydraulics failure was taught as part of the basic syllabus and regularly practiced during the course, and has therefore been successfully handled by students literally thousands of times over 30 years. I don't know of a single instance of an aircraft being damaged while practicing this manoeuvre on pilot's course. The whole "emergency" was relatively easy to handle with proper instruction. Consequently I believe any accidents resulting from real or practice hydraulic failures are more likely a result of poor instruction/technique than poor design.