You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Saturday 18 June 2022 |
| Time: | 18:10 LT |
| Type: |  Eurocopter EC 135P2 |
| Owner/operator: | Metro Aviation Inc |
| Registration: | N226SA |
| MSN: | 0559 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2007 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5538 hours |
| Engine model: | P&W Canada PW206B2 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Waukesha Airport, Waukesha, WI -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Wauksha, WI |
| Elkhorn, WI (0W13) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
After takeoff during an air medical flight, about 150 ft above ground level (agl), the pilot heard a "thump,' and the helicopter pitched up. The pilot immediately executed an emergency landing, and all occupants exited the helicopter uninjured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fenestron blades.
Examination of the helicopter at the accident site revealed that the fairing cover was missing from fenestron assembly and was found fragmented about 600 ft in all directions. There was no evidence of a bird strike. The fairing cover fragments that were found showed damage consistent with ingestion into the rotating blades of the fenestron. All attachment hardware for the cover were accounted for and showed no evidence of preaccident failure.
The damage to the fenestron housing was consistent with object ingestion. No preaccident failures or malfunctions were found with the fenestron body, fenestron blades, gearbox, or fenestron drive.
The helicopter flew about 5.8 hours without incident after the most recent maintenance of the fenestron and no uncorrected maintenance anomalies were found in the maintenance logbooks. The reason for the separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades could not be determined.
Probable Cause: The separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades for undetermined reasons.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CEN22LA258
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 21-Jun-2022 21:02 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 08-Nov-2022 06:04 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location, ] |
| 01-Jul-2024 08:52 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation