# Accident 20140117001329A: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, Houlton, ME, January 17, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 17, 2014, 20:40 local time
- Place: Houlton, ME
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Location: 46.1247° N, 67.7922° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1247&lon=-67.7922&mi=10
- Aircraft: N578AE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N578AE-2021-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (registry code 8680954, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL series (registry code 60031, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14TA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14TA096) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140117001329A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND BORDER PATROL AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT WHILE CONDUCTING TRAINING, THAT AFTER COMPLETING THE THIRD TAKEOFF AND LANDING, AT ABOUT 15 FEET AFTER TAKEOFF, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION. HE REPORTED THAT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE EXPLOSION, THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE OVER-SPEED WARNING AND A VERTICAL VIBRATION. SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED AND THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CREW INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND A TURBINE WHEEL PROTRUDING FROM THE ENGINE CASE. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO TURBOMECA FOR TEARDOWN.

## 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 ERA14TA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14TA096), Jan 18, 2014: Eurocopter AS350B3 (N578AE), Houlton, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: An engine compartment explosion during takeoff; the origin of the explosion could not be determined during postaccident examination due to extensive fire damage.

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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