# Accident 20100602036089A: Bell 222U, Midlothin, TX, June 2, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 2, 2010, 14:00 local time
- Place: Midlothin, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4586° N, 97.0389° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4586&lon=-97.0389&mi=10
- Aircraft: N515MK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N515MK-2011-02-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 222U (registry code 1182140, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222u) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222U
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 5,300 total, 931 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN10FA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA291) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100602036089A

## Narrative

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

THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) WHEN SEVERAL WITNESSES SAW THE TAIL BOOM AND THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM SEPARATE FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE FUSELAGE WAS DESTROYED IN AN IMMEDIATE POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE MAIN ROTOR MAST SEPARATED JUST BELOW THE HEAD. THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM INCLUDING THE HUB AND BLADE ASSEMBLY, PITCH CHANGE LINKS, AND WALKING BEAM ASSEMBLY REMAINED CONNECTED TO THE SWASH PLATE ASSEMBLY AND IMPACTED TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET NORTHEAST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE ENTIRE TAIL BOOM ASSEMBLY SEPARATED JUST AFT OF THE FUSELAGE AND IMPACTED TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET NORTHEAST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

## 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 CEN10FA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA291), Jun 2, 2010: Bell 222 (N515MK), Midlothian, TX, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The fracture of a swashplate drive pin as a result of hydrogen embrittlement due to an unknown source, which resulted in an in-flight breakup of the main rotor system during cruise flight.

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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