ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 359630
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| Date: | Monday 24 October 1994 |
| Time: | 08:30 LT |
| Type: |  Eurocopter AS-350D |
| Owner/operator: | Papillon Helicopter, Ltd |
| Registration: | N5771L |
| MSN: | 1343 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1981 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9146 hours |
| Engine model: | LYCOMING LTS-101-600A3 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Kaupo, HI -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Kahului, HI (OGG) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
AN EUROCOPTER AS-350D COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER A LOSS OF POWER WHILE OPERATING IN A MARINE ENVIRONMENT. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE OUT HORN. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE (T4) GAUGE WAS NOTED AT 900 DEGREES CELSIUS AND THE ENGINE CHIP DETECTOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE AXIAL COMPRESSOR, COMPRESSOR STATOR VANES, AND THE IMPELLER. PORTIONS OF THE IMPELLER BLADES WERE EXAMINED MICROSCOPICALLY REVEALING EVIDENCE OF METAL FATIGUE, WITH PITTING EVIDENT THROUGHOUT THE BLADES. ENERGY DISPERSIVE X RAY SHOWED THE PRESENCE OF SULFUR AND CHLORINE IN CORROSION DEPOSITS IN THE PITS. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED TWICE IN THE MONTH PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT. THE INSPECTION CRITERIA OUTLINED IN THE ENGINE MAINTENANCE MANUAL DETAILS A VISUAL INSPECTION PROCEDURE OF THE COMPRESSOR SECTION FOR CRACKS. THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL ALSO PRESCRIBES A DAILY COMPRESSOR WATER RINSE TO REMOVE SALT DEPOSITS, FOLLOWED BY INSPECTING THE COMPRESSOR FOR CLEANLINESS.
Probable Cause: a total loss of engine power by the corrosion fatigue failure of the compressor impeller due to the failure of company maintenance personnel to perform the prescribed daily compressor wash procedures and the inadequate maintenance inspections, which failed to detect the corrosion and subsequent pitting, that led to the fatigue initiation.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX95LA019
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 19 July 1982 | N5771L | Petroleum Helicopter, Inc. | 0 | Gulf Of Mexico, | |
sub |
| 28 February 1994 | N5771L | Papillon Helicopters Inc. | 0 | Huelo, HI | |
min |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Mar-2024 12:58 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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