# Incident 20101204052739I: Eurocopter MBB-BK 117, Bostn, MA, December 4, 2010

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 4, 2010, 09:00 local time
- Place: Bostn, MA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: 7FKA
- Location: 42.3361° N, 71.1058° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3361&lon=-71.1058&mi=10
- Aircraft: N271NE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N271NE-2019-12-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-1 (registry code 5626025, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-mbb-bk-117-c-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1 (registry code 60043, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER MBB-BK 117
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 4,465 total, 533 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11IA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11IA091) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101204052739I

## Narrative

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

*DURING LANDING IT WAS OBSERVED BY THE MEDICAL CREW THAT THE FACE OF THE OVERHEAD MEDICAL CABINET ASSY WAS ON FIRE AROUND THE VACUUM CONTROL SWITCH (VAC1).  *THE FLIGHT CREW EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH THE CABIN HAND HELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER.  THE PATIENT AND FLIGHT CREW EVACAUTED THE AIRCRAFT UPON LANDING AND SHUTDOWN WITH NO REPORTED INJURIES.*THIS CABINET IS PART OFF AN STC'D MEDICAL INTERIOR, MANUFACTURED FROM CARBON FIBER COMPOSITE MATERIAL. IT HOUSES A VACUUM REGULATOR, VACUUM PUMP SWITCH, LIQUID OXYGEN QAUNTITY INDICATOR AND 120 VAC ELECTRICAL OUTLETS.*THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED AFTER INSPECTION THAT THE SHEATHED WIRING BUNDLE FOR THE 120 VOLT AC POWER OUTLET MOUNTED IN THE AFT END OF THE CABINET, HAD CHAFED ON THE METAL SWITCH HOUSING FOR VAC1 WHICH WAS ON THE FRONT LOWER CABINET FACE.  THIS OUTLET IS POWERED BY THE MEDICAL INVERTER SYSTEM.  *THE COMPOSITE MATERIAL AROUND THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE SWITCH OPENING IGNITED, AND AN AREA OF 2" IN DIA. WAS BURNED AND MISSING.  LOOSE CARBON FIBER CLOTH WAS ALL THAT REMAINED IN BURNED AREA. *THE VAC1 SWITCH SHOWED SIGNS OF DAMAGE FROM FIRE / OVERHEATING.*THE VACUUM PUMP REGULATOR MOUNTED ABOVE THE VAC1 SWITCH SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING .*THE CABIN ROOF INTERIOR SUFFERED  SOOT DAMAGE TO 8 IN DIA. AREA ABOVE WHERE THE MEDICAL CABINET ATTACHES.

## 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 ERA11IA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11IA091), Dec 4, 2010: Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-1 (N271NE), Boston, MA, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: Improper installation of wiring associated with a medical cabinet interior, which resulted in chafing and a subsequent in-flight fire. Contributing to the incident was inadequate 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.

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