What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On approach to the area to be sprayed with the agricultural liquid the aircraft began to lose power and rotor RPM resulting in an emergency landing that resulted in major damage to the helicopter and some minor injuries to the pilot. The investigation performed by the NTSB required removal of the engine for an attempt to start the engine.
Inspector manning personally observed the investigation at atlanta air salvage and reports that he assisted NTSB and industry investigators inspect Honeywell model DP-N2 turboshaft engine in aircraft N72BM during accident investigation. Engine was borescoped and metal found in compressor due to impact during crash. No other internal damage was identified by the inspector. Fuel supply was verified to nozzle. No other indications of engine to lose power was noted by inspector. Investigator removed the engine from the airframe, crated the engine, and sent it to factory for further investigation.
The NTSB reports the engine ran but blade damage assumed to be post-accident required replacement of the compressor section. After replacement of the compressor section, the engine produced sufficient power. The investigator also reports fuel was available at the engine when removed. At this time, the exact cause of the loss of power remains unknown.
As the FAA filed it
ON APPROACH TO THE AREA TO BE SPRAYED WITH THE AGRICULTURAL LIQUID THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND ROTOR RPM RESULTING IN AN EMERGENCY LANDING THAT RESULTED IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER AND SOME MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT. THE INVESTIGATION PERFORMED BY THE NTSB REQUIRED REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE FOR AN ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE.
INSPECTOR MANNING PERSONALLY OBSERVED THE INVESTIGATION AT ATLANTA AIR SALVAGE AND REPORTS THAT HE ASSISTED NTSB AND INDUSTRY INVESTIGATORS INSPECT HONEYWELL MODEL DP-N2 TURBOSHAFT ENGINE IN AIRCRAFT N72BM DURING ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. ENGINE WAS BORESCOPED AND METAL FOUND IN COMPRESSOR DUE TO IMPACT DURING CRASH. NO OTHER INTERNAL DAMAGE WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE INSPECTOR. FUEL SUPPLY WAS VERIFIED TO NOZZLE. NO OTHER INDICATIONS OF ENGINE TO LOSE POWER WAS NOTED BY INSPECTOR. INVESTIGATOR REMOVED THE ENGINE FROM THE AIRFRAME, CRATED THE ENGINE, AND SENT IT TO FACTORY FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
THE NTSB REPORTS THE ENGINE RAN BUT BLADE DAMAGE ASSUMED TO BE POST-ACCIDENT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPRESSOR SECTION. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPRESSOR SECTION, THE ENGINE PRODUCED SUFFICIENT POWER. THE INVESTIGATOR ALSO REPORTS FUEL WAS AVAILABLE AT THE ENGINE WHEN REMOVED. AT THIS TIME, THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER REMAINS UNKNOWN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.