# Accident 20100117026339A: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, Reno, NV, January 17, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 17, 2010, 12:55 local time
- Place: Reno, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 39.5261° N, 119.7961° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5261&lon=-119.7961&mi=10
- Aircraft: N904CF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIUS
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 14,300 total, 9,544 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA112) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100117026339A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR10FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA112), Jan 17, 2010: Eurocopter AS350 B3 (N904CF), Reno, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…

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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