Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary SEA92LA029

BILLINGS, MT, USA

Aircraft #1

N101UC

AEROSPATIALE AS355F1

Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER THE COMPANY INITIATED ABORT OF THE MEDEVAC FLIGHT, THE FLIGHT CREW OF THE AEROSPATIALE AS355 FELT A SHUDDER WHICH THEY ATTRIBUTED TO GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. UPON LANDING AT BILLINGS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MONTANA, A PORTION OF THE LEFT-REAR ENGINE COWL DOOR WAS FOUND TO BE SEPARATED, ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT OF THE BLADES. THE CREW HAD PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED COMPANY PERSONNEL OF THE COWL DOOR LATCH PROBLEM AND HAD PREFLIGHTED THE COWL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD ISSUED A RELEVANT SERVICE BULLETIN. THE SERVICE BULLETIN HAD NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED ON THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE UNLATCHING AND SUBSEQUENT OPENING INFLIGHT OF THE LEFT-REAR ENGINE COWL DOOR. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO EXECUTE THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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