# Accident 20110101004179A: Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh MBB-BK 117 C-2, Albert Lea, MN, January 1, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 1, 2011, 18:12 local time
- Place: Albert Lea, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: RMXA
- Location: 43.6528° N, 93.3717° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6528&lon=-93.3717&mi=10
- Aircraft: N145SM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH MBB-BK 117 C-2
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,520 total, 129 in this make and model, 54 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110101004179A

## Narrative

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

ON 1/1/11 APPROXIMATELY 1700 LOCAL TIME OMNIFLIGHT DISPATCH CONTACTED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WITH A REQUEST TO REPOSITION FROM ROCHESTER MN TO ALBERT LEA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL TO PICK UP A PATIENT.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CHECKED THE WEATHER AND FOUND THE WEATHER TO BE WELL ABOVE VFW WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS FROM THE WEST. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PREFLIGHTED THE AIRCRAFT WHILE IN THE HANGAR AND PULLED THE AIRCRAFT OUT OF THE HANGAR REMOVING THE TOWBAR AND WHEELS.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE HANGAR DOOR SO HE HAD TO REPOSITION  THE AIRCRAFT TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE HANGAR.  HE FELT THE AIRCRAFT COULD SAFELY DEPART WITH THE HANGAR DOOR OPEN.  HE COMPLETED ANOTHER WALK AROUND AFTER REMOVING THE TUG AND GROUND HANDLING WHEELS.  AFTER THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE WAS STARTED THE FLIGHT MEDIC EXPRESSED A CONCERN ABOUT AN UNUSUAL RATTLE THAT SHE HEARD.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INDICATED THEY HAD VERY STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND THAT MAY BE CAUSING THIS.  HE THEN REMEMBERED THAT EARLIER IN THE DAY HE HAD OPENED BOTH ENGINE COWLS TO CHECK SETTINGS ON THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT AS DIRECTED BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE. THESE SETTINGS WERE NEEDED FOR ANOTHER COMPANY AIRCRAFT WHCH HAD A FUEL CONTROL UNIT PROBLEM. HE THEN TOLD THE FLIGHT MEDIC THAT HE HAD OPENED BOTH COWLS AND WOULD SHE GO OUT AND CHECK THE SECURITY OF BOTH ENGINE COWL LATCHES.  SHE DID AND REPORTED ALL LOOKED TO BE NORMAL.  THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AT APPROXIMATLY 1743 LOCAL.  APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM ALBERT LEA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO APPROXIMATLY 80 KNOTS AND STARTED HIS APPROACH AND HEARD A BANG THEN A THUD.  HE NOTICED A 4 PER REV VIBRATION HAD DEVELOPED AND MOMENTARILY THOUGHT ABOUT ABANDONING THE APPROACH AND LANDING 2 MILES AWAY AT ALBERT LEA AIRPORT.  SINCE THE ROUTE WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIM OVER A POPULATED AREA HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE AND LAND.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ LANDED THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY AND DISCOVERED THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE COWL OPENED IN FLIGHT STRIKING ALL FOUR ROTOR BLADES.  THE AIRCRAFT REQUIRED COWL AND ALL FOUR ROTOR BLADE REPLACEMENT.

## 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 CEN11CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA152), Jan 2, 2011: Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 (N145SM), Albert Lea, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the engine cowling latches prior the flight, which resulted in the cowling door opening in-flight and striking the main rotor blades.

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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