Pilot Debrief

AEROSPATIALE AS 355F1 near Temple Bar, AZ — 2009-12-06

Final reportWPR10LA075
Sign in to save
Date
2009-12-06
Location
Temple Bar, AZ, USA
Aircraft
AEROSPATIALE AS 355F1
Registration
N548SA
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Preflight

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention during the preflight inspection.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after arriving to work late he began his preflight inspection on the helicopter. As the pilot was inspecting the left engine, the refueling truck arrived and the pilot lowered the left engine cowling door and tended to the refueling of the helicopter. The pilot said that following the refueling of the helicopter, he continued his preflight inspection and subsequently boarded the passengers “not realizing I left the engine cowling ‘unlatched’.” While en route to the flight’s intended destination, the pilot heard a “pop” followed by feedback in the cyclic control. The pilot was informed by the pilot of a second helicopter that the left engine cowling appeared to be open and partially separated. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing to the desert surface and landed without further incident. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that two of the three main rotor blades were damaged. One main rotor blade exhibited a one-inch-long gouge about one-quarter of an inch in depth near the blade root. A portion of the left engine cowling was separated and not located.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot failed to properly secure the engine cowling before departure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

Related mishaps