CEN10IA169

Prior to takeoff, the helicopter's upper Environmental Control System (ECS) panel was not properly secured. The helicopter departed to an off-station platform and returned back to the home base. At an unknown time during the flight the ECS panel departed the helicopter, resulting in damage to one main rotor blade and one tail rotor blade. The helicopter's ECS and auxiliary power unit panels were both painted the same color, impeding visual inspection of the panels for proper closure.

On March 22, 2010, at an undetermined time, a Sikorsky S-92A, N921AL, received minor damage when an Environmental Control System (ECS) panel departed the helicopter and struck one main rotor blade and one tail rotor blade. The two airline transport pilots and 12 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight. The helicopter was owned and operated by Bristow U.S. LLC. The flight departed the Air Logistics Galliano Heliport (2LS0), Galliano, Louisiana, at 0605, flew to offshore platform Walker Ridge 206, and returned to 2LS0 approximately 0855. According to a statement provided by the pilot, through the company's safety department, the helicopter entered moderate turbulence fifteen minutes into the flight. No unusual characteristics or noises were reported during the flight. Damage to the helicopter was found during a post-flight inspection. The ECS panel has not been recovered, and it is unknown when the panel separated from the helicopter. The helicopter's ECS and APU panels were both painted the same color. This made the visual inspection of the panels difficult to detect if the doors were properly secured. As a result of the incident the company applied contrasting paint to help detect if the doors are not properly secured.