Service difficulty report · Unknown · Bell 407

Difficulty date
December 31, 2023
Submitted
January 2, 2024
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N408LN
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft serial
54433
Aircraft time
3,819 hours, 11,733 cycles
Part
Unknown
Part number
UNKNOWN
Condition
Unknown
Location
Unknown
Stage of operation
AA
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

DURING SCENE FLIGHT REQUEST AND ENROUTE TO SCENE, MEDICAL CREW NOTICED AND UNUSUALLY STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN AREAS. THE PATIENT SCENE FLIGHT REQUEST CANCELED MOMENTS LATER FROM THE REQUESTERS END, AND WE RETURNED TO BASE (RTB). DURING RTB, THE SMELL SEEMED TO BE WORSE WHEN THE VENT BLOWER OR AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON, AND THE SMELL WAS NOTICEABLY STRONGER IN THE CABIN AREA THAN THE COCKPIT WHICH ONLY HAD A FAINT FUEL SMELL. THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL ENGINE INDICATION AND FUEL FLOW WAS IN THE NORMAL RANGE FOR STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT. WHEN POWER WAS REDUCED AND WE WERE ON APPROACH FOR LANDING BACK AT OUR BASE, THE CREW DIDNT NOTICE THE SMELL AS MUCH. THE ENTIRE FLIGHT TIMES WAS ONLY 13 MINUTES, AND THE FUEL SMELL WASN'T PRESENT OR NOTICED UNTIL HALFWAY INTO THE FLIGHT.

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