N132LN
Registered owner: AIR METHODS LLC, CO (owner ≠ operator)
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
| Operator | Role | Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR METHODS LLC (QMLA) | Certificate holder | — | Matched by certificate designator |
Accident & incident history
No NTSB accidents or incidents on file for this aircraft.
Maintenance disclosures
IN FLIGHT, CREW AND PILOT SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. PILOT THEN NOTICED HYDRAULIC AND SERVO CAUTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IT WAS THEN DETERMINED TO DO A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. UPON LANDING, PILOT CHECKED THE RIGHT HAND BELT DRIVEN HYDRAULIC PUMP AND SAW BELT WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND OFF THE PUMP.
DURING INITIAL TAKE-OFF HOVER MED CREW MEMBER SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL ODOR IN THE CABIN. PILOT LANDED BACK ON THE DOLLY AND TERMINATED FLIGHT. PRIOR TO FLIGHT AMT PERFORMED REQUIRED PREFLIGHT AIRWORTHINESS CHECK, DURING CHECK, THE BLEED AIR HEAT AND DEMISTING VALVES WHERE EXCERCISED TO ENSURE THAT THEY WHERE NOT JAMMING FROM NOT BEING USED (SUMMER MONTHS). BOTH SCREW TYPE VALVES NEXT TO PILOTS SEAT WHERE LEFT SLIGHTLY OPEN BY THE AMT TO PREVENT THERMAL LOCK. AFTER AIRCRAFT ABORTED MISSION AMT AND PILOT GROUND RAN AIRCRAFT FOR 20 MINS WITH 2 ENGINE STARTS, VALVES WHERE LEFT IN CLOSED POSITION NO ODOR, ONCE VALVES OPENED ODOR WAS PRESENT. AMT BROUGHT MEDCREW OUT TO RUNNING AIRCRAFT AND HAD THEM SMELL ODOR, CONFIRMED THAT IS WHAT THEY SMELLED. AMT AND PILOT DETERMINED NO DEFECTS, MERELY THE HEATER CAUSING THE ODOR. ONE MEDCREW STATED AFTERWARD THAT SHE REALIZED THAT WAS WHAT IS WAS AFTER THE FACT. AIRCRAFT HAD JUST RETURNED (APPROX 15 FLIGHT HOURS) FROM MAJOR MAINTENANCE 600 HOUR INSPECTION.
WHILE PERFORMING AIRWORTHINESS CHECK OF THE MRH, IT WAS NOTICED A FINE LINE WITH SOME WEAR MUD. FURTHER INSPECTION LED TO THE CONFIRMATION OF A CRACK. APPROXIMATELY 1" LONG.
IN CRUISE FLIGHT, ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE LANDING BACK AT AIRPORT, THE PILOT NOTED A FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN. LANDED AT THE AIRPORT NORMALLY WITH NO ISSUES OTHER THAN THE FUEL ODOR. REMOVED THE BELLY PANEL UNDER THE FUEL TANK AND DID NOT SEE AND EVIDENSE OF FUEL LEAKING NOR ODOR OF FUEL. OPENED UP THE TRANSMISSION COWLING AND ENGINE COWLINGS WHERE FUEL ARE AND SEEN NO FUEL LEAKS NOR SMELLED FUEL. AFTER THE BELLY PANEL WAS REINSTALLED, THE COWLING CLOSED AND SECURED, AND NO SIGNS OF FUEL LEAKS NOR ODOR COULD BE FOUND. ACCOMPANIED THE PILOT ON THE FLIGHT AND HE PERFORMED 23 MINUTES OF FLYING. DURING THIS FLIGHT THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL TAKEOFF FROM THE AIRPORT, DURING CRUISE FLIGHT WE MADE TURNS AND HE ROCKED THE ACFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE GENTLY, AND THEN MADE A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING BACK AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. AT NO TIME DID WE DETECT THE ODOR FUEL IN THE CABIN.
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT OBSERVED A SERIES OF SPARKS AND SMOKE ORIGINATING FROM A SELF ILLUMINATING PANEL IN THE CENTER CONSOLE. MISSION WAS ABORTED AND AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO BASE.