# Accident 20090906019909A: Bolkms BO105S, Thibodaux, LA, September 6, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 2009, 14:02 local time
- Place: Thibodaux, LA
- Airport: Transco Schriever
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: UOGA
- Location: 29.7478° N, 90.8328° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7478&lon=-90.8328&mi=10
- Aircraft: N131EH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N131EH-2012-03-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105S (registry code 5626006, https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm-bo-105s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOLKMS BO105S
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,033 total, 1,969 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09LA571](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA571) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090906019909A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AND UN-COMMANDED RIGHT BANK AND RIGHT DRIFT DURING HOVER.  THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE BANK WITH FULL LEFT INPUT TO THE CYCLIC CONTROL.  THE SKIDS IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ON TO ITS RIGHT SIDE.  THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PERFORM AN OPERATIONAL CHECK FOR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE CYCLIC CONTROL SYSTEM.  A MECHANIC HAD REMOVED AND REPLACED THE LOWER LATERAL AND LONGITUDINAL CONTROL TUBES FOR THE CYCLIC CONTROL SYSTEM PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT.  IT IS SUSPECTED THAT MECHANIC HAD INSTALLED THE CONTROL TUBES IN THE WRONG POSITION DURING REINSTALLATION (I.E. LATERAL IN THE LONGITUDINAL POSITION).  THE CONTROL TUBES ARE INDENTICAL; HOWEVER, THE RIGGING ADJUSTMENTS ARE DIFFERENT.  IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THE REVERSAL OF THE CONTROL TUBES CREATED AN OUT OF RIGH CONDITION, RESULTING IN THE HELICOPTER BEING UNCONTROLLABLE.

## 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 CEN09LA571](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA571), Sep 6, 2009: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105S (N131EH), Thibodaux, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to maintain control due to the mechanic's inadvertent switching of two cyclic control tubes of different lengths during maintenance.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.