N279AM
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 Corp. (QMLA) | Certificate holder | — | Matched by certificate designator |
| Air Methods Corp. (QMLA) | Operator | on 2025-08-08 | Operator named in NTSB report |
Accident & incident history
Operated by AIR METHODS LLC (per NTSB report)
Not yet finalized — may be revised.Maintenance disclosures
Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA for this airframe. Filing is largely voluntary — the number of reports is not a measure of reliability. To verify a report, search its control number at the FAA SDRS site.
6 reports on file, 2021-07-15 – 2024-07-05.
Part: MOTOR — FAILED (AFT EVAPORATOR) · airframe 8,135 hrs · 18,188 cycles
INFLIGHT RETURN TO BASE LEG PILOT REPORTED A BURNING SMELL IN CABIN, TURNED OFF A/C SYSTEM AND SMELL WENT AWAY. LANDED AIRCRAFT AT 94E AIRPORT. WHEN MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE AIRCRAFT FOUND THAT AIR COMM AFT EVAPORATOR BLOWER MOTOR HAD FAILED AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BURNING SMELL REPORTED.
Part: OUTLET — ODOR (MEDICLA PANEL IN) · airframe 7,529 hrs · 16,953 cycles
CREW REPORTED UNUSUAL ODOR IN CABIN AFTER LIFTOFF.
Part: FRAME — CHAFED (FUSELAGE) · airframe 5,315 hrs · 12,708 cycles
RH X-FRAME HAS THREE CHAFED AREAS LOCATED ON ITS INBD BEADED FACE DUE TO A/C LINES. THE AFT RH INTERNAL TRANSMISSION DECK âDIAMOND PLATEâ DOUBLER ALSO HAS A CHAFE DUE TO THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL CABLE. 2 OF THE CHAFE MARKS ON THE X-FRAME ARE LOCATED ON ITS UPPER FWD LEG. THE LARGER OF THE TWO WAS MEASURED AT .007â DEPTH, .350â LENGTH, .225â WIDTH. THE SMALLER MEASURED AT .007â DEPTH, .175â LENGTH, .100â WIDTH. THE 3RD CHAFE ON THE X-FRAME IS LOCATED ON ITS LOWER FWD LEG. MEASURED AT .011â DEPTH, .225â LENGTH, .125â WIDTH. THE DIAMOND PLATE CHAFE WAS MEASURED AT .008â DEPTH & .175â IN LENGTH.
Part: TAIL BOOM — CHAFED (ZONE 300) · airframe 5,315 hrs · 12,708 cycles
4685 LOWER FWD TAILBOOM SKIN HAS TWO CHAFING MARKS ON ITS RH LOWER INTERNAL FACE LOCATED BETWEEN THE TAILBOOM JUNCTION FRAME AND THE X620 CIRCUMFERENTIAL FRAME CAUSED BY A WIRE HARNESS. THE LARGER OF THE TWO WAS MEASURED AT APPROXIMATELY .007â IN DEPTH, 1.2â IN LENGTH, AND .200â IN WIDTH. THE SMALLER CHAFE WAS MEASURED APPROXIMATELY .007â IN DEPTH, .150â IN LENGTH, AND .250â IN WIDTH. BELOW IS A QUICK SRM REFERENCE, AND ATTACHED WILL BE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGED AREA
Part: BULKHEAD WEB — CHAFED (ZONE 200) · airframe 5,315 hrs · 12,708 cycles
DAMAGE TO THE 15° BULKHEAD LH WEB (PN: 350A21-1032.22) AND THE LH POST (PN:350A21-1031.33) IN THE FORM OF MULTIPLE CHAFES (SEE FIGURES 1-2). THERE IS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE RH WEB (PN:350A21-1032.23) IN THE FORM OF CHAFES. INSIDE THE LH LATERAL CARGO HOLD THE 15 DEGREE BULKHEAD HAS A TOTAL OF SIX CHAFED LOCATIONS, TO INCLUDE THE LH LANDING GEAR DAMPER SUPPORT CHANNEL. INSIDE THE RH LATERAL CARGO HOLD THE 15 DEGREE BULKHEAD HAS A TOTAL OF THREE CHAFED LOCATIONS. THE DAMAGES RANGE FROM AS LOW AS .005â TO AS DEEP AS .020â IN DEPTH.
Part: DECK PLATE — CHAFED (ZONE 200) · airframe 5,315 hrs · 12,708 cycles
DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE DECK (PN: 350A21-1239.21) IN THE FORM OF A CHAFE AND DENT. THE DAMAGE AREAS WERE DISCOVERED TO BE NEAR THE SCUPPER DRAIN HOLE WITH THE CHAFE MEASURING PPROXIMATELY 0.50â LONG, 0.20â WIDE, AND 0.005â DEEP AT THE DEEPEST POINT, AND THE DENT MEASURING APPROXIMATELY 0.50â IN DIAMETER AND 0.040â DEEP,.