# Accident 20010505008509A: Bolkms BO105C, Medford, OR, May 5, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2001, 17:00 local time
- Place: Medford, OR
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: GCSA
- Location: 42.3722° N, 122.8728° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3722&lon=-122.8728&mi=10
- Aircraft: N105RH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N105RH-2001-10-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm-Gm BO-105C (registry code 5626005, https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm-gm-bo-105c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOLKMS BO105C
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA01FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01FA085) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010505008509A

## Narrative

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

(.19)ON MAY 5, 2001, APPROXIMATELY 1700 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A EUROCOPTER (FORMERLY MESSERSCHMITT-BOLKOW-BLOHM MBB) BO-105C HELICOPTER, N105RH, RE GISTERED TO TL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. OF ASHLAND, OREGON, AND BEING OPERATED BY MERCY FLIGHTS INC. OF MEDFORD, OREGON, ON A 14 CFR 135 NON-SCHEDULED AIR AMBULANCE FLIGHT, EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE AND FIRE IN THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY AT THE MEDFORD, OREGON, AIRPORT, AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY AIRPORT RESCUE/FIREFIGHTING (ARFF) PERSONNEL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT-IN-COMMAND, TWO CREW MEMBERS, OR PASSENGER/PATIENT ON BOARD; HOWEVER, THE FIRE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE HELICOPTER. THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER THE PATIENT WAS PICKED UP. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED AT MEDFORD AT 1656. THE TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN FILED FOR THE FLIGHT, IF ANY, IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.  PRELIMINARY INFORMATION REPORTED TO THE NTSB INDICATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER PATIENT PICKUP, NEAR THE MEDFORD AIRPORT, THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO THE AIRPORT ON THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE. APPROACHING THE AIRPORT, THE MEDFORD TOW ER CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAILING SMOKE; PRELIMINARY REPORTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO FIRE WARNING IN THE COCKPIT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REPORT. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON TAXIWAY A AT THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT THEN NOTED A FIRE WARNING. THE AIRCRAFT OCCUPANTS EXITED THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT INJURY, AND ARFF ARRIVED ON SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE FAA AIRCRAFT REGISTRY, THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER IS EQUIPPED WITH TWO ROLLS-ROYCE (FORMERLY ALLISON) 250 SERIES TURBOSHAFT ENGINES. AN INSPECTOR FROM THE FAA'S PORTLAND, OREGON, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO), WHO RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND PERFORMED AN INITIAL POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER, REPORTED TO THE NTSB THAT WET OIL AND COMBUSTION PRODUCTS WERE BOTH PRESENT IN THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THAT NO OIL WAS FOUND IN THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE OIL TANK. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE FUEL LINES TO THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE APPEARED TO BE INTACT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE FOUND THE PUSH-PULL CONTROL TUBES FOR THE MAIN ROTOR MELTED WHERE THEY RUN THROUGH OR NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.                                                                     (-23)SUSPECT ENGINE OIL RETURN LINE FITTING FAILURE AT ACCESSORY CASE.

## 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 SEA01FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01FA085), May 5, 2001: MBB BO-105C (N105RH), Medford, OR, destroyed. Probable cause: A leaking engine oil outlet line fitting in the #1 engine compartment, resulting in an oil fire in the engine compartment.

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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