ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 280655
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| Date: | Thursday 19 May 2022 |
| Time: | 11:10 LT |
| Type: |  Eurocopter AS355N Ecureuil 2 |
| Owner/operator: | private |
| Registration: | N448JM |
| MSN: | 5627 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1997 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3547 hours |
| Engine model: | Eurocopter Turbomeca Arr |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Palm Beach, Florida -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Palm Beach AFB, FL (PBI/KPBI) |
| Hollywood-North Perry Airport, FL (HWO/KHWO) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot picked up the helicopter from a repair facility and while flying home heard a 'boom,' felt a vibration in the tail, and performed a precautionary landing to a beach. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the engine cowling had become unlatched and was subsequently struck by a main rotor blade. The detached cowling then struck the horizontal stabilizer and tail rotor, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he did not confirm that the engine cowling latch was properly secured during his preflight inspection. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter before the cowling opened and detached.
Probable Cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in the unlatched engine cowling opening and being struck by a main rotor blade during flight. Contributing to the accident was the mechanic's failure to properly secure the cowling following maintenance.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ERA22LA231
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-Jul-2022 18:36 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 22-Jul-2022 18:53 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Narrative] |
| 17-Nov-2023 18:36 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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