# Incident 20230930011289I: Bell 206-L4, Huntsville, AL, September 30, 2023

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2023, 12:40 local time
- Place: Huntsville, AL
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EVCA
- Location: 34.7304° N, 86.5861° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Huntsville, AL, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7304&lon=-86.5861&mi=10
- Aircraft: N314AE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N314AE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206-L4 (registry code 1182110, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C30P (registry code 54013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206-L4
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C30P
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,300 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230930011289I

## Narrative

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

APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL THE CREW AND PILOT OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL SMOKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIRCRAFT VENTS. PILOT SAW A SUITABLE FIELD TO HER LEFT TO LAND IN AND DECIDED TO DO A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. SHE TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AS SHE MADE A LEFT TURN FOR THE FIELD. AFTER LANDING AND SHUTTING DOWN, SHE DID A POST FLIGHT WALK AROUND. ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER, SHE COULD SMELL THE SAME ELECTRICAL SMOKE SMELL.

THE MECHANIC WAS DISPATCHED TO SITE AND PERFORMED VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING DRIVE (I.E.: DRIVESHAFT PULLEY, BELT CONDITION AND AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR AND PULLEY) AND FOUND NO DEFECTS OR ANOMALIES AT THAT LOCATION.

THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON THAT THE AFT BLOWER MOTOR WAS NOT TURNING IN EITHER THE LOW OR HIGH SWITCH POSITION. AT THAT TIME, HE TIE WRAPPED THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND DEFERED THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM PER MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST (MEL) PROCESS.

WHEN THE TROUBLESHOOTING WAS COMPLETED THE NEXT DAY, THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT WHEN SHE DROPPED THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT OVERHEAD PANEL TO ACCESS THE AFT BLOWER MOTOR AREA, IT WAS BLACK AND SMELLED OF A SMOKY ODOR. THE MECHANIC ASKED THE PILOT TO SMELL IN THE AREA TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE SAME ODOR THAT HER AND THE CREW HAD EXPERIENCED THE DAY BEFORE.  THE PILOT WAS 100% CONFIDENT  THAT IT WAS THE SAME SMELL / ODOR.  IT WAS AT THIS TIME THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AFT BLOWER MOTOR WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED, PRODUCING A ELECTRICAL SMOKE SMELL.

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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