# Accident 20090313002369A: Bell 222, Milliken, CO, March 13, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 13, 2009, 16:25 local time
- Place: Milliken, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3253° N, 104.8556° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3253&lon=-104.8556&mi=10
- Aircraft: N222LL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N222LL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 222 (registry code 1182122, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming LTS-101 series (registry code 41560, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lts-101-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222
- Reported engine: LYC LTS101*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,780 total, 170 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA218) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090313002369A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED APA, 30 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT WHILE OVER THE TOWN OF MILLIKEN, CO THE LEFT ENGINE COWLING OPENED STRIKING BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BLADES AND TEARING OFF MOST OF THE COWL DOOR.  THE LIBERATED PART OF THE COWL DOOR THEN STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH TAIL ROTOR BLADES.  THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT HE HAD HIT A BIRD AND THEN CHOSE TO RETURN TO APA WHERE HE MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING.

## 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 CEN09CA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA218), Mar 13, 2009: Bell 222 (N222LL), Milliken, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the left engine cowling for undetermined reasons.

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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