# NTSB LAX05LA060: Eurocopter France EC135T1, N135NW, Casa Grande, AZ, January 3, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 3, 2005, 13:46 local (20:46 UTC) - Place: Casa Grande, AZ - Coordinates: 32.954723, -111.766944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9547&lon=-111.7669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: American Eurocopter, Federal Aviation Administration, Turbomeca-USA - NTSB case key (mKey): 60796 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60796/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA060 ## Probable cause the separation of a main rotor control link due to improper maintenance installation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - rotorcraft flight control,cyclic control rod - not safetied (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) - aircraft control - diminished (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Following the in-flight separation of a main rotor control link, the pilots lost control and the helicopter hit the ground hard and rolled over. The pilots reported that as they turned base in the traffic pattern for landing at the airport, the helicopter pitched up violently and rolled to the right, followed by a hard roll to the left. Both pilots got on the controls and tried to regain control of the helicopter. The pilots lowered the collective and started down for a landing. During the descent, the pitching and rolling continued intermittently with the roll attitude reaching beyond 60 degrees. As the helicopter neared the ground, the pilots flared and the helicopter hit the ground in a tail low attitude and rolled over. A post accident examination of the helicopter, and examination of maintenance records by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, occurred on site and after recovery. During the course of the examination it was determined that maintenance personnel had removed cyclic control links from the cyclic control levers to check the ball joints for excess free play during an inspection. The links are attached to the cyclic levers with bolts and castle nuts with cotter pins through the castle nuts as a safety locking device. The right lateral cyclic control link was found broken. The nut on the upper bolt was 1/4-inch away from the side of the attachment point. There was no evidence of the cotter pins having been added to the castle nuts after the link inspection/reinstallation. ## Factual narrative On January 3, 2005, at 1346 mountain standard time, a Eurocopter EC135T1 helicopter, N135NW, sustained a loss of control in flight and collided with terrain at Casa Grande, Arizona. The flight was operated by Omni Flight Helicopters, Inc., d.b.a. Native American Air Ambulance, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The certificated commercial check pilot received a minor injury and the certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The local area training flight originated at Mesa, Arizona, about 1330. The pilots reported that as they turned base in the traffic pattern for landing at the airport, the helicopter pitched up violently and rolled to the right, followed by a hard roll to the left. Both pilots got on the controls and tried to regain control of the helicopter. The pilots lowered the collective and started down for a landing. During the descent, the pitching and rolling continued intermittently with the roll attitude reaching beyond 60 degrees. As the helicopter neared the ground, the pilots flared and the helicopter hit the ground in a tail low attitude and rolled over. A post accident examination of the helicopter, and examination of maintenance records by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, occurred on site and after recovery. During the course of the examination it was determined that maintenance personnel had removed cyclic control links from the cyclic control levers to check the ball joints for excess free play during an inspection. The links are attached to the cyclic levers with bolts; castle nuts with cotter pins through the castle nuts as a safety locking device. The right lateral cyclic control link was found broken. The nut on the upper bolt was 1/4-inch away from the side of the attachment point. There was no evidence of the cotter pins having been added to the castle nuts after the link inspection/reinstallation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N135NW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N135NW-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 0010, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter France EC135T1 - Registry model: [Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T1](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-ec135t1) (registry code 5620026) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0010 - Airframe hours: 4167 - Engines: Turbomeca Arris 2B1 670 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Omni Flight Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, December 1, 2004, 8 hours before - Departed: IWA, Mesa, AZ - Destination: CGZ, Casa Grande, AZ - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Check pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 13,500 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2; last flight review December 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 10,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: PHX, 31 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050103000409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050103000409A), Jan 3, 2005: Urocop EC135T1, Casa Grande, AZ, Destroyed. (-23) On January 3, 2005, at approximately 1345 local, N135NW, an EC-135 helicopter operated by omniflight helicopters was destroyed during a forced landing… 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. --- 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.