20080711856269I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Agusta A109E · Augusta, GA · July 11, 2008

Date: July 11, 2008 · 11:00 local
Place: Augusta, GA
Airport: Doctors Hospital
Phase of flight: Takeoff
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: XMEA
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N109DU
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC08IA244
Reported as: Agusta A109E
Reported engine: TMECA ARRIUS2K1
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,100 total950 in this make and model41 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot reported loss of power to both engines at takeoff. While attempting to return to the helo pad the helicopter came to rest on a chain link fence surrounding the helo pad causing damage to the main gear torque links, geardoors, belly vent tubes, and punctured one hole in the belly skin.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT REPORTED LOSS OF POWER TO BOTH ENGINES AT TAKEOFF. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE HELO PAD THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON A CHAIN LINK FENCE SURROUNDING THE HELO PAD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE MAIN GEAR TORQUE LINKS, GEARDOORS, BELLY VENT TUBES, AND PUNCTURED ONE HOLE IN THE BELLY SKIN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC08IA244Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportAugusta, GAThe lack of available engine power and subsequent loss of rotor rpm due to the pilot’s departing with one engine at idle. Contributing to the incident was a corroded engine control wiring harness.Jul 11, 2008 · Minor damage