Service difficulty report · Blade · Agusta AW139

Difficulty date
June 10, 2019
Submitted
August 17, 2020
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Agusta AW139
Aircraft time
4,131 hours
Part
Blade
Part number
4G6210A00132
Condition
Delaminated
Location
Main Rotor
Part time
1,452 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
A

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

(CAN) WHILE IN CRUISE, IN IMC ON AN IFR FLIGHT FROM AIRPORT TO CANADA, WITH THE INTENT TO BREAK-OFF ON THE APPROACH AND PROCEED HOSPITAL TO DROP OFF OUR PATIENT, THE FLIGHT CREW EXPERIENCED A NOISE THEY BELIEVED WAS LIKELY EMITTING FROM THE MAIN ROTOR. OVER THE NEXT FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE NOISE PROGRESSIVELY AMPLIFIED AND WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH A VERTICAL VIBRATION. AFTER SUCCESSFULLY LANDING AND SHUTTING DOWN, IT WAS NOTICED ONE BLADE TO HAVE A 9 INCH DELAMINATION ON THE LOWER SKIN OF THE LEADING EDGE. APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 24 AND 33 INCHES FROM THE BLADE TIP. (TC# 20190611010)

More about the Agusta AW139