Service difficulty report · Heater · Urocop EC130B4

Difficulty date
February 26, 2019
Submitted
March 1, 2019
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N245AM
Make and model
Urocop EC130B4
Aircraft serial
EC7154
Aircraft time
2,426 hours, 10,788 cycles
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL2B1
Engine time
2,426 hours, 6,788 cycles
Part
Heater
Condition
Odor
Location
Cabin
Stage of operation
AA
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF FROM OUR HOSPITAL FOR A NICU TEAM FLIGHT; BOTH CREW-MEMBERS SAID THEY SMELLED FUEL. THE AIRPORT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME SO I INITIATED A LANDED TO THE KSPI BRAVO RAMP IN COORDINATION WITH TOWER. DURING MY DESENT, I REMEMBERED I HAD JUST TURNED ON THE HEATING SYSTEM RIGHT BEFORE THE CREW SAID THEY SMELLED FUEL. THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR A BRIEF PERIOD RIGHT AFTER THE HEAT IS TURNED ON. I ASKED THE CREW IF THEY STILL SMELLED FUEL AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT. I CONTINUED MY APPROACH, LANDED, CHECKED OUT THE AIRCRAFT FOR LEAKS, NON WERE FOUND SO WE DEPARTED FOR THE MACOMB, IL HOSPITAL AND COMPLETED THE NICU TRANSFER BACK.

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