N135LF
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
#2 ENG CHIP CAUTION DISPLAYED IN-FLIGHT. PULSED CHIP BURNER ONCE, BROUGHT ENG #2 TO IDLE AND THEN FINALLY BROUGHT ENG #2 OFF AND COMPLETED A RUN-ON LANDING. MECH INSPECTED CHIP, IT WAS A CATOGORY A CHIP WHICH REQUIRED CLEANING CHIP DETECTOR, DOING A 15 MIN GROUND RUN AND CHECKING THE CHIP DETECTOR AGAIN. NO CHIPS NOTED AND WAS DETERMINED TO BE IN AIRWORTHY CONDITION.
POST CHIP LIGHT FOUND CAT B DEBRIS ON MOD 1 CHIP PLUG. SENT OUT OIL SAMPLE. COMPLETED CAT B PROCEDURES IN CONJUNCTION WITH TURBOMECA TECH REPRESENTATIVE. AT THIS TIME ORDERED NEW STYLE MAGNETIC SEALS FOR STARTER/GEN AND BREATHER AS PER TBM TECH REP. AFTER INSTALLATION OF THESE SEALS GROUND RAN ENGINE. INSPECTED ENGINE CHIP PLUGS AFTER SHUTDOWN AND FOUND DEBRIS ON MOD 1 CHIP PLUG. ADVISED TBM TECH REP. AFTER MORE DETAILED INSPECTION ON OIL SAMPLE FROM CHIP LIGHT, TBM DETERMINED THAT THE DEBRIS WAS NOT FROM THE OLD STYLE MAGNETIC SEALS BUT MORE LIKELY GEAR MATERIAL. TBM RECOMMENDED MOD 1 G/BOX CHANGE. THIS AIRCRAFT REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE AT THE TIME OF THIS SUBMISSION AWAITING PARTS.
DURING THE FIRST FLIGHT SINCE ENG FLUSH, THE COCKPIT & CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE SMOKE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE SMELL FROM RUNNING THE HEATER AFTER AN ENG FLUSH. INSPECTED BOTH ENGS FOR LEAKS & BURNED WIRING WITH NO DEFECTS NOTED. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER ENG & COMPRESSOR WASHES FOR EACH ENG. THEN GND RAN WHILE THE MX INSPECTED & FOUND EVIDENCE OF COMPRESSOR SOAP BURN OFF. THE ACFT WAS SHUT DOWN ONCE ALL OF THE SOAP RESIDUE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY BURNED OFF. PERFORMED A CHECK FLIGHT TO CONFIRM THE SMELL & SMOKE HAD DISSIPATED. AFTER SHUTDOWN VISUALLY INSPECTED ENGS & ENG COMPARTMENTS. NO LEAKS OR BURNED WIRING WERE FOUND. AT THIS TIME, THE ACFT WAS RETURNED BACK TO SERVICE.
THE PILOT SMELT WHAT APPEARED TO BE BURNING RUBBER IN THE ACFT RETURNING TO BASE FOLLOWING A PATIENT TRANSFER. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING & OPENED UP THE FRESH AIR VENTS. HE THEN DIVERTED TO & LANDED. AT NO TIME WAS THERE EVER SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. THE MECHANIC WAS CALLED TO LOOK AT THE HELICOPTER. ALL COWLINGS WERE OPENED & THE BELLY PAN WAS DROPPED FOR INSPECTION. A 15 MINUTE GND RUN & 13 MINUTE TEST FLIGHT WAS COMPLETED. WE WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM & RETURNED THE HELICOPTER TO SERVICE.
CREW REPORTED A SMELL IN THE ACFT WHILE IN FLIGHT. INSPECTED CB`S FOR TRIPPING. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR OPERATION, HEATING & VENTILATION SYS, LIGHTING & OUTLETS. GND RAN ACFT IN ORDER TO RECREATE PROBLEM BUT I WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE DISCREPANCY. THIS AIRCRAFT IS APPROVED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE. FLEW ACFT TO VERIFY. ATA CHAPTER 2430 WAS CHOSEN, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO NOTABLE ISSUE FOUND WITH THE ACFT HEATING SYS, OR ANY OTHER SYS IAW THE MECHANICS INSPECTION.