Pilot Debrief

EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH MBB BK 117 C-2 near Pittsburgh, PA — 2016-04-26

Final reportERA16LA265
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Date
2016-04-26
Location
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Airport
PN80
Aircraft
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH MBB BK 117 C-2
Registration
N145HN
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the left vertical fin cowling during recent maintenance, which resulted in its separation and subsequent contact with the tail rotor system during flight.

NTSB narrative

The accident flight, which was an on-demand air medical flight, was the second flight of the day following maintenance work that had been performed on the helicopter earlier that morning. The commercial pilot reported that the flight was uneventful but that, after landing, he noticed that the left vertical fin cowling had partially separated and contacted a tail rotor blade. Further examination of the helicopter revealed that the right vertical fin cowling remained secured but that 8 of the 11 fasteners on the left vertical fin cowling were unlocked, consistent with maintenance personnel not properly securing them following the maintenance work that was performed earlier that day.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Maintenance
First missed decision gate
Properly securing the left vertical fin cowling after maintenance work.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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