# Accident 20001016018239A: Aerosp AS355F2, Burlington, NC, October 16, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 16, 2000, 23:55 local time
- Place: Burlington, NC
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BAQA
- Location: 36.0795° N, 79.4409° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0795&lon=-79.4409&mi=10
- Aircraft: N355DU, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N355DU-2003-03-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS355F2 ECUREUIL (registry code 8680812, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as355f2-ecureuil) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSP AS355F2
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA01FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01FA006) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001016018239A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A PART 91 MAINTENANCE FERRY FLIGHT WHEN IT CRASHED ABOUT ONE MINUTE AFTER TAKE-OFF. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED A TRANSMISSION OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED JUST PRIOR TO LANDING AT THE ALAMANCE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. A MECHANIC WAS DISPATCHED TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC STATED HE CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FOR LEAKS AND THEN DISCONNECTED THE WIRE TO THE TRANSMISSION OIL PRESSURE LIGHT. HE NEVER RECONNECTED THE LIGHT. DUE TO PAST PROBLEMS WITH THE PRESSURE SWITCH, THE MECHANIC AND PILOT MADE A DECISION TO GROUND RUN AND HOVER THE AIRCRAFT. IF NO ABNORMAL VIBRATIONS OR NOISES WERE HEARD OR FELT, THE PILOT WOULD FERRY THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO DUKE MEDICAL CENTER. AFTER FIFTEEN OR TWENTY MINUTES OF RUN TIME, THE PILOT TOOK OF AD CRASHED ONE MINUTE LATER. A POSTCRASH EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER SHOWED THE GEARS IN THE COMBINER GEARBOX HAD DAMAGE AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL PUMP DRIVE SHAFT WAS SEPARATED NEAR THE MIDSPAN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA01FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01FA006), Oct 17, 2000: Aerospatiale AS-355-F2 (N355DU), Burlington, NC, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The mechanics failure to comply with manufacturers instructions for correction of a illuminated main rotor gearbox oil pressure warning light resulting in the helicopter being dispatched on a ferry…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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