Hello everyone, I currently fly FW for a gentleman who owns a lot of ranch property and is eyeing a helicopter purchase for work. He really likes 500 series and is considering the 520N due to the lack of tail rotor And not having to worry about having a tail rotor strike on some shrub. Not knowing much about helicopter OEMs, I thought I'd look for some advice here. Does anyone know how good or bad the customer service support is from MD helicopters?

Go with a 

MD 900, great power fastwe with auto pilot. 

I've got time in 269, 369, 900/902. I'm calling BS on great power in the 900, especially at higher altitudes and temperatures. It never came close to its performance charts. 
I've seen the 520 and 600 at work. Same story there. Did I say unreliable? Oh and support, there is none.

Look at the AS 350 B3e. Work horse, reliable and support is ok. Tail rotor is not a worry in the hands of a component pilot.

Same for the Bell 407 GXP except the support from Bell is the best in the industry and in a lot of circumstances, performs as well and the AS 350. As a bonus, the 407 is a bit faster than the AS 350.

good advice.  If a helicopter without a tail rotor, aka NOTAR is desired just degrade the payload capability and live within its means.  Not exactly getting what you buy but if the tail rotor thing is kinda hard and fast that is a possibility.  

good advice.  If a helicopter without a tail rotor, aka NOTAR is desired just degrade the payload capability and live within its means.  Not exactly getting what you buy but if the tail rotor thing is kinda hard and fast that is a possibility.  

Go with a 

MD 900, great power fastwe with auto pilot. 

Depending on what is it that he's wanting to do and how many people are going to be with him and what altitude is his property at. Without any of that information no is going to give you a answe. But I would look at a 1979 R22

the guy's question which is pretty good for this dump

369FF Baby!... But yea, the support sucks balls.

about too much pwr!!! Like  S76B's! I know old but they have balls! Remeber doing "placarding" runs weighted down & still wanted to hover on 1 Eng @ idle.

The 900 is more helicopter than he needs. Plus getting insured in a twin will be a pain. from my experience he shouldn't have a problem getting insured in a light single like the 500 or 520. But that wasn't the question I was asking. I'm curious about how well their customer service is today. Can we get parts, tech support, etc?

Depending on what it will be used for, the F or H125 is the correct choice. 

"I don't know what you're going to do with it, but this is what you need" astounding

I'd pass on the 520 or a 600. The notar thing isn't really worth it. The fan assembly is complicated and always seems out of balance. Stick with traditional tail rotor. 
if money isn't an object I'd personally go with a 407 if the guy just wants to coast around the ranch and give rides.

ps. MD 900's aren't fast or comfortable the IDS screens and IFC always seem to have problems.

Agreed. Notar system is junk. Support is not great, but managable. If you never plan to have more than 2 people in it a 500D or 500E would be great (unless the ranch is at 8,000'+). If you plan to put more than two people in it consider the 407 or H125.

if it is over 8000' consider 530F H125B3 or 407 HP

Okay to answer the support question, MD recently woke up and  said they were going to improve support... for the seventh or fifteenth time, they have been poor and I don't expect much improvement, but they are promising improvement again.

You still should be careful with a NOTAR, it does not make the aircraft a tank.

New owners ... however they will still make up the same stories about how they are going to get better 

New owners ... however they will still make up the same stories about how they are going to get better