ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 351878
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| Date: | Monday 1 February 1999 |
| Time: | 11:10 LT |
| Type: |  Aerospatiale AS 350B |
| Owner/operator: | Silverado Helicopters, Inc. |
| Registration: | N32GA |
| MSN: | 1188 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9743 hours |
| Engine model: | Turbomeca Arriel 1B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Serious incident |
| Location: | Grand Canyon Park, Arizona -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport, NV (KLAS) |
| Grand Canyon, AZ | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
While descending on an aerial tour flight with six passengers, the left side bubble window separated from the helicopter and impacted a tail rotor blade. The pilot made a precautionary landing in the canyon without further incident. Neither the separated window nor its doorframe attachment seal (gasket) was recovered. Examination of the helicopter's tail rotor blade found it bent and scratched with areas of debonded material. The damaged blade was not repairable. During preflight inspection the pilot did not see any damage to the window, and during the flight the left seated passenger was not observed pressing on it. Due to observed cracks in the previous window 4.5 months and 589 flight hours earlier, it had been replaced with a window removed from another helicopter. No maintenance record entry was found for the window installation. The operator's replacement window was manufactured under a FAA Supplemental Type Certificate. The STC holder said that if its 'wedge' window is not properly installed, or if it becomes cracked or damaged due to exposure to harmful cleaning solvents, its integrity may be compromised. The operator reported that if a small crack existed near the window's edge, it may not have been noticed/reported by the pilot due to a lack of conspicuity. The reason(s) for the window separation could not be determined.
Probable Cause: The in-flight separation of a side window for undetermined reasons.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX99IA085
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 21-Feb-2024 20:49 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 21-Feb-2024 20:54 | ASN | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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