What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) After takeoff with an external load the pilot smelled what he believed at the time to be something burning. As the smell worsened, he then received a #2 engine fire warning light. The pilot pulled the #2 fire extinguisher handle, dropped the long line, returned to the airport and landed without further incident. After landing, the pilot shut down both engines and exited the aircraft. A post landing examination of the helicopter revealed that a puncture from the inside out in the hot section of the #2 engine was allowing hot gases to escape into the engine compartment. There was no actual fire.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AFTER TAKEOFF WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD THE PILOT SMELLED WHAT HE BELIEVED AT THE TIME TO BE SOMETHING BURNING. AS THE SMELL WORSENED, HE THEN RECEIVED A #2 ENGINE FIRE WARNING LIGHT. THE PILOT PULLED THE #2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER HANDLE, DROPPED THE LONG LINE, RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGINES AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. A POST LANDING EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT A PUNCTURE FROM THE INSIDE OUT IN THE HOT SECTION OF THE #2 ENGINE WAS ALLOWING HOT GASES TO ESCAPE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NO ACTUAL FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N873HL · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.