# Incident 20010112020399I: Snias AS350B2, Van Nuys, CA, January 12, 2001

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 12, 2001, 19:17 local time
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Airport: Van Nuys Airport
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2098° N, 118.4900° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at VAN NUYS (VNY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2098&lon=-118.4900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N223LA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010112020399I

## Narrative

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

(-23) RECEIVED INFORMAL INCIDENT REPORT FROM THE VAN NUYS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER ON 01/09/01. REPORT STATED THAT LAPD HELICOPTER PD16 (AT APPROXIMATELY 19:17), ADVISED THE TOWER THAT THEY HAD A BURNING SMELL IN THE COCKPIT. THEY DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED IMMEDIATELY AT THE CITY HELIPORT.  THE LANDING WAS UNEVENTFUL.  THE HELICOPTER HAD 80 PERCENT FUEL ON BOARD AND FOUR PASSENGERS.  ON 01/12/2001 I DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH THE CHIEF OF MAINTENANCE FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. HE STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE FLIGHT CREW SMELLED BURNING RUBBER AND LANDED.  THE MAINTENANCE CREW FOUND THAT THE MAIN ROTOR TRANSMISSION INPUT SEAL HAD STARTED TO LEAK AND FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR DRIVE BELT THAT CAUSED IT TO SLIP.  AFTER WHICH IT BEGAN TO BURN FROM CONTACT WITH THE DRIVE PULLEY. THE MAINTENANCE CREW CHANGED THE INPUT SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONING DRIVE BELT AND RETURNED THE HELICOPTER TO SERVICE.

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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