# Accident 20220618021819A: Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh EC 135 P2+, Waukesha, WI, June 18, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 2022, 17:09 local time
- Place: Waukesha, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HDNA
- Location: 43.0396° N, 88.2393° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0396&lon=-88.2393&mi=10
- Aircraft: N226SA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N226SA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ (registry code 5620030, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-ec-135-p2-plus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B (registry code 52204, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH EC 135 P2+
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PW206B
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 5,600 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA258) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220618021819A

## Narrative

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

THE CREW RECEIVED AN AIR AMBULANCE FLIGHT ASSIGNMENT TO PICK UP A PATIENT FROM THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE PILOTS BEGAN THEIR ASSIGNMENT BY PERFORMING AN AIRCRAFT WALK-AROUND AND ACCOMPLISHED ALL THE APPROPRIATE PREFLIGHT CHECKLISTS. THE CREW STARTED THE AIRCRAFT AND ACCOMPLISHED AFTER START AND BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST AS WELL AS PERFORMING A HOVER CHECK. ONCE ALL OF THE PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKS WERE COMPLETED SATISFACTORILY THE CREW REQUESTED A RAMP DEPARTURE WITH THE WAUKESHA AIRPORT TOWER LOCAL CONTROLLER AND BEGAN A MAX PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF. THROUGH 150 FEET, WHILE TRANSITIONING TO FORWARD FLIGHT, THE PIC EXPERIENCED AN AUDIBLE BANG AND FELT A MOMENTARY SHUDDER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THIS TIME THE CONTROL FORCES WERE NORMAL AND THAT MAYBE THEY HAD EXPERIENCED A BIRD STRIKE. AS A PRECAUTION, THE PIC THEN ELECTED TO TURN BACK TO THE RAMP AND NOTIFIED THE TOWER REQUESTING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE DOLLY FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUTDOWN, THE PIC NOTICED DURING THE WALKAROUD THAT THE FENESTRON CAP COVERING THE TAIL BLADE ATTACH POINTS HAD COME OFF AND WENT THROUGH THE FENESTRON SHROUD AND BLADES CAUSING SUBSTANSIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY.

## 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 CEN22LA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA258), Jun 18, 2022: Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ (N226SA), Waukesha, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades for undetermined reasons.

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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