20040626018319A

(-23) On July 27, 2004 the director of operations for native air ambulance reported that on July 4, 2004, damage was discovered to the tailboom section of N5226R, an AS-350B3 helicopter. The letter from the company states that in tracing the history of the aircraft, it is suspected that the damage occurred on June 26, 2004, during an air ambulance flight. A statement from the flight nurse on board the aircraft reported that at 0400 local, the aircraft was dispatched to a scene call. The lz was a dirt baseball field. On approach to the ballfield, the aircraft entered a brownout condition. The flight nurse described that the aircraft touched down with significant force, rocked up on the right skid and slid several inches. During the post flight inspection by the pilot, no damage was noted. The aircraft flew approximately 15 more missions before the damage was noted on July 4, 2004. Damage consists of several small buckles on the right side and underside of the tailboom approximately 3 1/2 feet aft of the tailboom attachment point and a 8-10 inch crease approximately 6 inches aft of the tailboom attachment point on the lower side of the tailboom. The tailboom assembly and engine require replacement. A technical inspection by a representative of the manufacturer states that the damage is consistent with a hard landing.