# Incident 20191116021689I: Agusta Spa A109E, Penobscot, ME, November 16, 2019

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 16, 2019, 18:45 local time
- Place: Penobscot, ME
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: GNLA
- Location: 44.5211° N, 68.6411° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5211&lon=-68.6411&mi=10
- Aircraft: N901EM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N901EM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Agusta A109E (registry code 0260101, https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-a109e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C (registry code 52160, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw206c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AGUSTA SPA A109E
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PW206C
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ENG20IA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG20IA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191116021689I

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED NORTHERN LIGHT HOSPITAL IN BLUE HILL, MAINE WITH 4 PERSONS ON BOARD. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A MAIN ROTOR BLADE VIBRATION AND PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD IN PENOBSCOT, MAINE. LAT/LONG: N44.31.24, W68.38.42.  POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE TIP OF ONE ROTOR BLADE HAD BECOME DE-LAMINATED.

THE BLADE WAS REPLACED AND THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVICE.  THE BLADE HAS BEE RETAINED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION, SEE NTSB ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION NUMBER ENG201A005.

## 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 ENG20IA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG20IA005), Nov 16, 2019: Agusta A109 (N901EM), Penobscot, ME, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: Fatigue fracture of the main rotor blade tip cap leading edge and subsequent partial separation of the tip cap, resulting in increased vibrations in the main rotor.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.