N145HC
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
INITIAL CONDITIONS PRIOR TO TAKE OFF WERE AS FOLLOWS: DEPARTING FROM KHZL WITHIN WEIGHT AND CG LIMITS, 2+30 FUEL ON-BOARD, AVERAGE CREW WEIGHT BETWEEN ALL THREE CREW MEMBERS, AND OBSERVED WINDS OF 230@5. PILOT PERFORMED A HOVER POWER CHECK CENTER SOD PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, ACCELERATED IN GROUND EFFECT WITH AN INTENDED TAKE OFF DIRECTION OF APPROX 160 AND NOTICED AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ACCELERATING AS USUAL WITH MAX TAKEOFF POWER APPLIED. PILOT THEN INITIATED A CLIMB AND WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE GREATER THAN 100FT PER MINUTE RATE OF ACCENT. ALL ENGINE CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL, POWER WAS MAX AVAILABLE BUT AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RESPONDING NORMALLY. PILOT VERBALLY MADE ALL OBSERVATIONS IN REAL TIME IN ORDER TO KEEP CREW INFORMED AND AID IN DECISION MAKING/TROUBLE SHOOTING. THE CREW DECIDED TO ABORT THE FLIGHT WHILE STILL WITHIN TRAFFIC PATTERN AND RETURNED TO BASE. MAINTENANCE WAS ONSITE WORKING ON THE BASE PRIMARY AIRCRAFT. MAINTENANCE PERFORMED CURSORY INSPECTION OF MAJOR SYSTEMS AND SUBSEQUENT MX TEST FLIGHT. WINDS WERE NOW VARIABLE WITH ALMOST 180 DEGREE SWING NORTH TO SOUTH. PILOT REPLICATED FLIGHT CONDITIONS FLIGHT SAME PATH WITH APPROX SAME CREW WEIGHT USING MX PERSONNEL. AIRCRAFT PERFORMED AS NORMALLY. COULD NOT REPLICATE ISSUE
WE HAD JUST LANDED AT TSTC (KCNW) TO RWY35L, TOWER WANTED ME TO HOLD ON THE RUNWAY TILL 3 CESSNA 152'S TAXIED PAST BEFORE MOVING INTO THE RAMP. AT THIS TIME I WAS MAINTAINING APPROXIMATELY A 15'-20' HOVER INTO A 10-15KTS HEAD WIND, TO PREVENT MY DOWN WASH FROM HITTING THE TAXIING CESSNA'S. TOWER CLEARED US INTO THE RAMP, AS WE STARTED TO TAXI INTO THE RAMP, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A HEAD WIND UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO DESCEND TO A NORMAL 5' HOVER. I APPLIED LEFT PEDAL TO LINE UP WITH OUR DOLLY AND TAKE A RIGHT CROSSWIND. AT THIS TIME, THE FOLLOW ON TRIM STARTED TO APPLY RIGHT PEDAL PRESSURE, I APPLIED MORE LEFT PEDAL TO STOP THE INPUT. THE LEFT PEDAL WAS STIFF AND I HAD TO APPLY MORE LEFT PEDAL PRESSURE THAN NORMAL. THE RIGHT CROSSWIND AND THE RIGHT PEDAL INPUT STARTED US ON A RATION THAT CONTINUED THROUGH 360 DEGREES. I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE LEFT PEDAL TRYING TO STOP THE ROTATION. I TOLD THE CREW TO HANG ON AND I PUSHED THE A. TRIM YAW BUTTON AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE ROTATION TO STOP WITH LEFT PEDAL. THE HELICOPTER OVER CORRECTED THEN STARTED TO ROTATE TO THE LEFT BECAUSE OF THE PEDAL INPUT AND HAD TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT PEDAL. IT FELT LIKE I WAS FIGHTING THE FOLLOW ON TRIM AND HAD SEVERAL BACK AND FORTH INPUTS TRYING TO MAINTAIN HEADING. AT THIS POINT, I ELECTED TO PERFORM A HOVERING AUTO, RATHER THEN CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE PEDALS AND TRY TO LAND ON THE RAMP. AIRCRAFT IS OOS MAINTENANCE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TROUBLESHOOTING SYSTEM AND WILL UPDATE WHEN ISSUE IS RESOLVED.
HYDRAULIC PRESSURE LINE RUPTURED ON #1 SYS COMING FROM HYD PUMP.
CRACK DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO THE LEFT SIDE AFT BOX BEAM INNER SKIN PANEL (PN: B533K5606-212) MEASURED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 0.625â LONG. THE DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED VIA A REPAIR DOUBLER IN ACCORDANCE WITH AIRBUS RDAS-BK117-53-2021-4226, REVISION B DATED 02 DEC 2021.