What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 12, 2004, at the Rialto airport, Rialto, California, a bht 222U, operated by lifenet sustained minor damage after the main rotor blades contacted the engine cowling. The mechanic reported that the aircraft had fluctuating #1 engine oil pressure and he opened the engine cowling locking it to half latch position. After inspecting and checking wiring, he joined the pilot in the cockpit to discuss the problem. The mechanic and the pilot decided to go for a test flight and as they lifted and were clearing the end of the taxiway, they received a radio call advising them that the engine cowling was open. The mechanic realized that he had left the engine cowling door open. They felt a thump on the turn back to the ramp, and after landing found the left engine cowling destroyed and underside of the main rotor blades damaged.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 12, 2004, AT THE RIALTO AIRPORT, RIALTO, CALIFORNIA, A BHT 222U, OPERATED BY LIFENET SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE AFTER THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE ENGINE COWLING. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLUCTUATING #1 ENGINE OIL PRESSURE AND HE OPENED THE ENGINE COWLING LOCKING IT TO HALF LATCH POSITION. AFTER INSPECTING AND CHECKING WIRING, HE JOINED THE PILOT IN THE COCKPIT TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO GO FOR A TEST FLIGHT AND AS THEY LIFTED AND WERE CLEARING THE END OF THE TAXIWAY, THEY RECEIVED A RADIO CALL ADVISING THEM THAT THE ENGINE COWLING WAS OPEN. THE MECHANIC REALIZED THAT HE HAD LEFT THE ENGINE COWLING DOOR OPEN. THEY FELT A THUMP ON THE TURN BACK TO THE RAMP, AND AFTER LANDING FOUND THE LEFT ENGINE COWLING DESTROYED AND UNDERSIDE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DAMAGED.
Other reports on N403MA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.