ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 306094
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| Date: | Thursday 1 December 2022 |
| Time: | 15:17 |
| Type: |  MBB BK-117 D2 |
| Owner/operator: | Pacific Helicopters - PNG |
| Registration: | P2-PHA |
| MSN: | 20042 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2015 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3401 hours |
| Cycles: | 9030 flights |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Tari Hospital, Hela -
 Papua New Guinea
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Ambulance |
| Departure airport: | Fogomaio |
| Tari Hospital | |
| Investigating agency: | PNG AIC |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
The helicopter was engaged on an ambulance flight and conducted a VTOL landing.
The tail Fenestron was severely damaged when FOD was ingested into the tailrotor blades
Contributing factors/Causes
- As the helicopter was about 10-15 ft above the helipad over the newly excavated area, helicopter’s rotor downwash blew up the piece of denim material into the air and into the fenestron jamming the blades. As a result, the ten rotor blades snapped.
- The approach was conducted over a recently excavated area that had not been inspected prior to the flight.
- The recent excavation work around the helipad uncovered FOD’s that remained free on the
ground adjacent to the helipad.The dirt laden denim material could not be detected from the air
as it blended into the ground and due to its size.
- The crew previous trips to the hospital, the crew thought the area was tidier and appeared free of obstacles. Because of that conclusion, they decided to continue to the helipad rather than
divert to the Airport.
- The area had not been inspected following the excavation work to ensure it was clear of FOD’s.
- The aerial assessment of the crew was such that they believed the area was clearer of obstacles than in the past.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
PNG AIP report AIC 22-1005
https://pub.flowpaper.com/docs/https:/aic.gov.pg/sites/default/files/2022-12/AIC%2022-1005%20P2-PHA%20Preliminary%20Report.pdf
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 26-Jun-2023 04:59 | Ron Averes | Updated |
| 14-Feb-2024 08:16 | ASN | Updated [Total occupants, Narrative, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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