# Accident 20040809024779A: Urocop EC130B4, Denver, CO, August 9, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2004, 15:12 local time
- Place: Denver, CO
- Airport: Centennial Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 39.5672° N, 104.8500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5672&lon=-104.8500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N910U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N910U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (registry code 8680989, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1 (registry code 60056, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: UROCOP EC130B4
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total, 180 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04CA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA122) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040809024779A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS POSITIONED ON THE RAMP AT THE AIR METHODS MAINTENANCE FACILITY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNDERGOING SOME AVIONICS ADJUSTMENTS BY TWO TECHNICIANS, SUBSEQUENT TO AN UNSUCCESSFUL COMPASS SWING/TEST FLIGHT. A THIRD MAINTENANCE PERSON OPENED THE TRANSMISSION COWLING, LEFT IT OPEN AND LEFT THE AREA. THE PILOT WAS TOLD BY THE AVIONICS TECHNICIANS THAT THEY HAD COMPLETED THEIR ADJUSTMENTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PILOT AND THE TECHNICIANS ATTEMPTED A TAKE OFF WITHOUT SECURING THE OPEN COWLING. A FEW FEET AFTER LIFT OFF, A GROUND CREW PERSON SAW THE OPEN COWLING AND SIGNALED TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF. THE PILOT DESCENDED AND PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN, THE COWLING DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE MAIN ROTOR. THIS CREATED SCHRAPNEL WHICH CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM, ONE MAIN ROTOR AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE COWLING. NO INJURIES.

## 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 DEN04CA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA122), Aug 9, 2004: Eurocopter France EC-130 B4 (N910U), Englewood, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to perform a preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the transmission cowling that disconnected during the landing.

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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