20100117026339A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Eurocopter AS 350 B3 · Reno, NV · January 17, 2010

Date: January 17, 2010 · 12:55 local
Place: Reno, NV
Phase of flight: Other, Specify
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: QMLA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N904CF
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR10FA112
Reported as: Eurocopter AS 350 B3
Reported engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 14,300 total9,544 in this make and model46 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.

An investigation subsequent to a hard landing after a loss of power to the main rotor system revealed the three (3) engine to m.g.b. coupling shaft (p/n 350A35-110-21) attach nuts (p/n ASNA044-080BCL) unthreaded from the three (3) (p/n 350A32-1060-38) screws (bolts) allowing the engine flex coupling to disengage from the coupling shaft and the engine.

As the FAA filed it

AN INVESTIGATION SUBSEQUENT TO A HARD LANDING AFTER A LOSS OF POWER TO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM REVEALED THE THREE (3) ENGINE TO M.G.B. COUPLING SHAFT (P/N 350A35-110-21) ATTACH NUTS (P/N ASNA044-080BCL) UNTHREADED FROM THE THREE (3) (P/N 350A32-1060-38) SCREWS (BOLTS) ALLOWING THE ENGINE FLEX COUPLING TO DISENGAGE FROM THE COUPLING SHAFT AND THE ENGINE.

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 WPR10FA112Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportReno, NVThe improper installation of the engine-to-main gear box flex coupling, which resulted in the failure of the flex coupling and a loss of power to the rotor system during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the mechanic who removed the engine's failure…Jan 17, 2010 · Substantial damage