# Accident 20110727014929A: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, Troutdale, OR, July 27, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2011, 15:52 local time
- Place: Troutdale, OR
- Airport: Troutdale
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 45.5492° N, 122.3992° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5492&lon=-122.3992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N808LF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N808LF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (registry code 8680954, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1 (registry code 60056, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA352) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110727014929A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AURORA IN ROUTE TO THE DALLES APPROX. 15 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT THE PILOT HEARD A THUMP AND AIRCRAFT STARTED VIBRATING. THE PILOT DECIDED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT TROUTDALE. UPON INSPECTION THE CENTER TAIL DRIVE SHAFT COVR WAS MISSING, ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AT THE TIP. THERE WERE ALSO SCRAPES AND SCRATHES ON THE TAIL ROTOR.AIRCRAFT HAD JUST HAD A 100 HOUR INSPECTION COMPLETED AT AURORA PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT.INTERVIEW WITH EACH MECHANIC AND THE PILOT INDICATED THAT ALL HAD SEEN THE PANEL INSTALLED AND SECURED. THE RIGHT HAND SIDE STILL HAS THE FASTENERS INSTALLED THE LEFT SIDE FASTENERS ARE MISSING.

## 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 WPR11LA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA352), Jul 27, 2011: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N808LF), Troutdale, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of the tail rotor drive shaft cover as a result of maintenance personnel not ensuring that it was secured after a maintenance inspection; also causal was the pilot’s…

## Other reports on N808LF (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20220416002309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220416002309A), Apr 16, 2022: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N808LF), Phoenix, AZ, Minor damage. N808 landed at the city helo pad and requested a hot refuel. The crew of the helicopter acted in accordance with the company procedures listed in the general…
- [Incident 20140626010009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140626010009I), Jun 26, 2014: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N808LF), Temple, TX, Minor damage. While lifting off to a hover, the aircraft began a rotation counter-clockwise. Following several rotations, the pilot lowered the aircraft to hover height,…

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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