# Accident 20220519007479A: Eurocopter AS 355N, Delray Beach, FL, May 19, 2022 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 19, 2022, 12:26 local time - Place: Delray Beach, FL - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 26.4484° N, 80.0589° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4484&lon=-80.0589&mi=10 - Aircraft: N448JM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N448JM-2025-12-29) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Eurocopter AS 355N (registry code 8680966, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-355n) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS-1A (registry code 60011, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-1a) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 355N - Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIUS 1A - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 2,707 total, 211 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA231) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220519007479A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. NTSB # ERA22LA231 ATQA NO.: PENDING REGISTRATION: N488JM SAS ACTIVITY ID: SO19202212919 MAKE: 1997 EUROCOPTER MODEL: AS 355N SERIAL NUMBER: 5627 OVERVIEW: ON MAY 19, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:30 PM (EST), THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE ROC OF A REPORTED HELICOPTER THAT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO THE NORTHEAST OF BOCA RATON AIRPORT ON THE BEACH. ?N448JM CALLED BCT TOWER ON 118.425 TO REQUEST A SOUTHBOUND TRANSITION ALONG THE SHORELINE. WHEN N448JM WAS APPROXIMATELY 6NM NORTH HE INFORMED THE TOWER HE WAS MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE BEACH BECAUSE HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE.? ANNUAL AIRCRAFT/ENGINE CONDITION INSPECTION: MANUFACTURERS INSPECTION ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, 5/19/2022, AT AIRFRAME TOTAL TIME 3547.2 HOURS. WHEN: ON MAY 19, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:10 PM (EST) WHERE: 1997 EUROCOPTER AS 355N, HELICOPTERS INC, REGISTRATION N448JM WITH ONE PILOT AND NO PASSENGERS ON BOARD, TOOK OFF FROM PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KPBI) AND WAS OPERATING SOUTHBOUND ALONG THE SHORELINE, JUST NORTHEAST OF BOCA RATON (KBCT). WHEN N448JM WAS APPROXIMATELY 6NM NORTH, HE INFORMED THE TOWER HE WAS MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE BEACH BECAUSE HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE.? THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST IN DELRAY BEACH, UPRIGHT, AT LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE POSITION OF N26°26?53.56 W-80°03?32.30. WHAT: INFORMATION INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91, CONDUCTING A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT IN DAYTIME VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. AIRCRAFT N448JM, OWNED / REGISTERED BY A PRIVATE OWNER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE AIRMAN HOLDS A COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH ASEL, AMEL, AND ROTORCRAFT HELICOPTER, WITH AN AIRPLANE INSTRUMENT RATING. AIRCRAFT N448JM DEPARTED PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. . WHO: PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) COMMERCIAL ASEL/AMEL/ROTOR-HEL: MEDICAL CERTIFICATE: SECOND CLASS 08/18/2021 EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND CRASH SITE: THE SOUTH FLORIDA FSDO ASSIGNED INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TO THE SCENE FOR THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ARRIVED ON SCENE ON MAY 19, 2022 AND APPROXIMATELY 1:45PM LOCAL TIME AND MET WITH PERSONNEL FROM THE DELRAY BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE INSPECTOR WAS LED TO THE AIRCRAFT LOCATION AT N26°26?53.56 W-80°03?32.30. INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ARRIVED TO FIND N448JM, UPRIGHT, ON THE BEACH. THE PILOT IN COMMAND IDENTIFIED HIMSELF. THE AIRMAN WAS ACCOMPANIED BY TWO PERSONNEL FROM A MAINTENANCE REPAIR CENTER, ROTORTECH, LOCATED AT PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND CRASH SITE: DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM, RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, A TAIL ROTOR BLADE, AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE. THE MONOCOQUE SKIN OF THE TAIL BOOM IS DENTED IN A COUPLE OF PLACES. THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER LEADING EDGE IS DENTED AND DEFORMED OVER ABOUT HALF ITS SPAN. THERE IS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE UPPER STABILIZER SKIN AND POSSIBLY THE SPAR. THE RIGHT HAND SIDE ENGINE COWLING WAS SEPARATED AND LOCATED ON THE GROUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE BEACH. ALL OTHER COWLING COMPARTMENTS APPEARED LATCHED AND SECURED. OTHER DAMAGE NONE NONE REPORTED. ACCIDENT/INCIDENT HISTORY NONE REPORTED. AIRFRAME AND ENGINE LOGBOOKS MANUFACTURERS INSPECTION ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, 5/19/2022, AT AIRFRAME TOTAL TIME 3547.2 HOURS. AIRMAN TRAINING THE PILOT IN COMMAND WITH OVER 2,700 HOURS, AND OVER 200 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL INDICATED THE DATE OF THE LAST FLIGHT REVIEW; INCLUDING 121/135 CHECKS WERE COMPLETED ON 2/1/2022 IN A ROBINSON R-44. FINAL SUMMARY THE PILOT IN COMMAND DID NOT SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT AFTER A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT, DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO TAKING OFF WITH AN UNSECURE RIGHT SIDE ENGINE COWLING, EVENTUALLY BECOMING UNSECURE NOT LONG AFTER TAKEOFF, ATTRIBUTING TO THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ## 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 ERA22LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA231), May 19, 2022: Eurocopter AS355 (N448JM), Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in the unlatched engine cowling opening and being struck by a main rotor blade during flight. Contributing to the accident was the… 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.