N434AM
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 |
Accident & incident history
No NTSB accidents or incidents on file for this aircraft.
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.
31 reports on file, 1995-01-28 – 2022-11-08.
Part: GEARBOX — MAKING METAL (MAIN ROTOR) · airframe 4,442 hrs
WHILE IN THE DECELERATION PHASE FOR LANDING, THE "XMSN CHIP" AND MASTER CAUTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALL OTHER INDICATIONS - TRANSMISSION PRESSURE, TEMP. WERE NORMAL. NO ABNORMAL NOISE OR VIBRATIONS NOTED. LANDING AND SHUTDOWN WERE NORMAL. INSPECTED CHIP DETECTORS, SMALL SILVER FLAKES LESS THAN 1 MM FOUND ON MGB SUMP. WHICH IS NORMAL FOR A TRANS WITH LESS THAN 100FH AS PER THE BELL MANUAL. CURRENT TRANSMISSION TIME SINCE OVERHAUL / INSTALLATION IS 78+23FH. RETAINED FLAKES FOR HISTORICAL USE. DRAINED AND RESERVICED, FILTER CHANGE, AND PERFORMED GROUND RUN.
Part: MOTOR — FAULTED (BLOWER) · airframe 4,105 hrs · 13,030 cycles
PILOT RECEIVED A CALL FOR AN INTER HOSPITAL TRANSFER. APPROXIMATLY 6 MINUTES POST DEPARTURE FROM BASE THE FLIGHT CREW STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. A SHORT DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE BETWEEN THE CREW VERIFIYING ALL HAD SMELLED "SMOKE" AT WHICH TIME THE PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO PL @ THE LOCAL HIGHSCHOOL PARKING LOT. DURING THE APPROACH PILOT STATES THE SMELL BECAME STRONGER. ONCE ON THE GROUND THE PILOT INSTRUCTED THE MED CREW TO EVAC AND GET CLEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT THEN STATED A PUFF OF SMOKE (VISABLE CLOUD) CLEARLY CAME FROM PILOT SIDE BLOWER MOTOR. PILOT SHUT OFF THE A/C SYSTEM/ BLOWERS & FOLLOWED SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES. PILOT STATED THE REMAINDER OF SHUTDOWN WAS NORMAL.
Earlier reports · 1995–2014 · 29 reports
2014
Part: WARNING SYSTEM — FALSE ACTIVATION (COCKPIT) · airframe 194 hrs · 609 cycles
DURING FLIGHT TORQUE MISCOMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED, REDUCED POWER & LIGHT WENT OUT. ACFT RETURN TO BASE & LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN DURING HOVER FOR LANDING. ACFT LANDED & LIGHT REMAINED ON ALONG WITH AN ALTN DATA FAIL LIGHT. TECH REP RECOMMENDED CHECKING THE PLUGS AT THE PRIMARY & SECONDARY TRANSDUCERS. ALSO STATED IT COULD POSSIBLY BE ONE OF THE SIGNAL CONDITIONERS. THE PLUGS AT THE TRANSDUCERS WERE CLEANED & STABILENT 22 WAS APPLIED TO THE PINS. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN FOR ABOUT 20 MIN AT DIFFERENT TORQUE SETTINGS, SPEEDS & ALTITUDES. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.
Part: WARNING LIGHT — ILLUMINATED (COCKPIT) · airframe 150 hrs · 452 cycles
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE MGT MISCOMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALERTED THE CREW & ADVISED THEM THAT THEY WOULD BE ABORTING THE FLIGHT & RETURNED TO BASE. THE RFM EMER PROCEDURE STATES TO AVOID HIGH POWER SETTINGS IF POSSIBLE & LAND AS SOON AS PRACTICAL. ONCE ON THE GND MX ARRIVED TO TROUBLESHOOT THIS ISSUE. THIS ACFT REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE AT THE TIME OF THIS SUBMISSION AS MX IS WORKING WITH TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE.
Part: WARNING SYSTEM — FALSE ACTIVATION (COCKPIT) · airframe 148 hrs · 446 cycles
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE MGT MISCOMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ABORTED THE FLIGHT & RETURNED TO BASE. FOUND NO FAULTS WITH THE PREVIOUS REPAIR THAT WAS REPORTED UNDER SDR QMLA2014053014060 FOR THIS SAME TYPE OF EVENT. AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE SYS THAT CONCLUDED WITH NO FAULTS FOUND, THE HMU CONNECTOR WAS DISCONNECTED, CLEANED & RE-INSTALLED. THIS ACFT HAS SINCE BEEN RETURNED TO SERVICE.
Part: TERMINAL BLOCK — LOOSE (COCKPIT) · airframe 148 hrs · 438 cycles
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED A MGT MISCOMP CAUTION LIGHT ILLUMINATE. ABORTED THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT & RETURNED TO BASE. FOUND A TERMINAL BLOCK LOOSE BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS BLOCK & TERMINAL ENDS WERE SECURED & THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE WITH NO ADDITIONAL DEFECTS NOTED.
Part: FADEC — MALFUNCTIONED (ZONE 200) · airframe 92 hrs · 251 cycles
DURING FLIGHT FADEC DEGRADE, FADEC FAULT & RESTART ILLUMINATED.
Part: FADEC — FAULTED (ENGINE) · airframe 82 hrs · 220 cycles
ON DEPARTURE, THE FADEC DE GRADE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT RETURNED TO BASE & WHEN HE LANDED THE FADEC FAULT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ACFT THEN WENT INTO MANUAL MODE & THE THROTTLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO INPUT. THE ENG STAYED AT 100% WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS IN IDLE POSITION. PILOT WAS ABLE TO SHUT DOWN ENG BY CLOSING THE THROTTLE TO THE OFF POSITION & STOPPING FUEL FLOW.
Part: FADEC — FAULTED (ENGINE) · airframe 68 hrs · 180 cycles
DURING FLT FADEC DEGRADE LIGHT & RESTART LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER LANDING FADEC FAIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SHUT ACFT DOWN.
2000
Part: SWITCH — FAILED (LT ENGINE)
7486 - STL - LEFT BETA CAPTION ILLUMINATED IN FLIGHT. MAINTENANCE REPLACED LEFT BETA PRESSURE SWITCH.
1998
Part: ALTIMETER — FAILED (COCKPIT)
FLT 7508 - STL - CAPTAINS ALTIMETER FLAGGED. MAINTENANCE REPLACED CAPTAINS ALTIMETER. (M)
Part: O-RING — WORN (LT SPINNER)
FLT 7486 - STL - LEFT PROPELLER SPINNER WOBBLES IN FLT. MAINTENANCE INSPECTED AND REPLACED LEFT PROPELLER SPINNER O-RING. (M)
Part: CONTROLLER — FAILED (LT ENGINE)
FLT 7100 - STL - LEFT ENGINE FIRE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CREW DISCHARGED BOTH FIRE BOTTLES, SHUT ENGINE DOWN, UNLOADED PASSENGERS. MAINTENANCE REPLACED LEFT ENGINE FIRE WIRE CONTROLLER. (M)
1997
Part: ADI — FAILED (LT INSTR PNL)
FWA - FLT 7509 - CAPTAIN'S ADI FLAGGED IN CLIMB. MAINTENANCE REPLACED CAPTAIN'S ADI. (X)
Part: CONTACTOR — FAILED (RIGHT START)
STL - FLT 7023 - RIGHT GENERATOR CAPTION ILLUMINATED, GENERATOR WOULD NOT RESET. MAINTENANCE REPLACED RIGHT START CONTACTOR. (X)
Part: EGT INDICATOR — FAILED (INSTRUMENT PANEL)
STL - FLT 7344 - RIGHT ENGINE EGT ERRATIC THEN INDICATOR DROPPED TO ZERO. MAINTENANCE REPLACED RIGHT EGT INDICATOR. (X)
1996
Part: TQ SIGNAL COND — OUT OF ADJUST (LT ENGINE)
STL - FLT 7061 - LEFT ENGINE WOULD NOT PRODUCE TARGET TORQUE. MAINTENANCE ADJUSTED THE LEFT TORQUE SIGNAL CONDITIONER. (X)
Part: ENGINE — MALFUNCTIONED (RIGHT)
STL - FLT 7096 - RIGHT ENGINE FAILED TO ACHIEVE TARGET TORQUE. MAINTENANCE REPLACED RIGHT ENGINE. (M)
Part: LINKAGE — OUT OF ADJUST (NR 1 ENG)
STL - FLT 7464 - NR 1 ENGINE WOULD NOT PRODUCE TARGET TORQUE. ADJUSTED ENGINE POWER CONTROL LINKAGE. (M)
Part: FUEL CONTROL — OUT OF ADJUST (LT ENGINE)
BMI - FLT 7325 - LEFT ENGINE RPM WOULD NOT COME ABOVE 98.5 PERCENT - 99 PERCENT ON TAKEOFF. FERRY FLIGHT TO STL. MAINTENANCE ADJUSTED RPM, GROUND RUNS GOOD. ENGINE TT, 6,994.1 HOURS. (X)
1995
Part: SWITCH — DIRTY (NLG)
COU - FLT 7042 - LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT. MAINTENANCE CLEANED AND LUBED NOSE GEAR SQUAT SWITCH. GEAR SWINGS REVEALED NORMAL OPERATION. (X)
Part: TQ SIGNAL COND — OUT OF ADJUST (LT ENGINE)
STL - FLT 7448 - LEFT ENGINE 5 PERCENT SHY TARGET TORQUE. MAINTENANCE RECALIBRATED LEFT TORQUE SIGNAL CONDITIONER AS PER GARRETT DSC SHEETS. GROUND RUNS CHECK GOOD. (M)
Part: GASKETS — LEAKING (LT ENG)
STL - FLT NR 7304 - LEFT ENGINE DID NOT MAKE TARGET TORQUE. MAINTENANCE REPLACED LEFT ENGINE BLEED AIR GASKETS. GROUND PERFORMANCE RUNS REVEALED NORMAL ENGINE PARAMETERS. (M)
Part: BRAKE MAXARET — FAULTY (RT MLG)
STL - FLT NR 7089 - RIGHT BRAKE IS NOT OPERATING. MAINTENANCE REPLACED RIGHT BRAKE MAXARET. TAXI CHECK AND LEAK CHECK GOOD. (M)
Part: RPM SCREW — OUT OF ADJ (LT ENG)
STL - FLT NR 7067 - LEFT ENGINE TORQUE DROPPED FROM 80 PERCENT TO 40 PERCENT. MAINTENANCE ADJUSTED LEFT ENGINE MAX RPM. GROUND RUNS REVEALED NORMAL OPERATION. (M)
Part: EEL BATT PACK — DISCHARGED (CABIN)
STL - EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOP. MAINTENANCE REPLACED EMERGENCY LIGHT BATTERY. (M)
Part: TQ SIGNAL COND — OUT OF ADJUST (LT ENGINE)
STL- FLT 7446 - LEFT ENGINE LOW TORQUE, WITH TTL ON AT 80 PERCENT. MAITNENANCE ADJUSTED LEFT ENGINE TORQUE SIGNAL CONDITIONER. GROUND POWER RUNS REVEALED NORMAL OPERATION. (X)
Part: HYD LINE — BROKEN (RT HYD BAY)
ALO - FLT 7454 - THE CREW NOTICED HYDRAULIC PUMP PRESSURE ZERO ON BOTH SIDES. CREW PERFORMED EMERGENCY CHECKLIST AND LANDED ACFT. MAINTENANCE DISCOVERED BROKEN HYDRAULIC LINE AT THE MAIN HYD FILTER. REPLACED LINE, AND LEAK CHECK GOOD ON GROUND RUN. (W)
Part: TRUSS TUBE — CHAFED (LT ENG)
STL - LEFT ENGINE LOWER INBOARD FWD ENGINE TRUSS TUBE IS CHAFED. MX REPLACED LEFT ENGINE LOWER INBOARD FWD ENGINE TRUSS TUBE. (Z)
Part: WIRE — PINCHED (PASSENGER DOOR)
STL - FLT 7508 - PASSENGER DOOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN FLIGHT. MAINTENANCE DISCOVERED PINCHED WIRING AT PASSENGER DOOR HANDRAIL. MAINTENANCE REPLACED PINCHED SECTION OF THE WIRING. SYSTEM TEST GOOD. (X)
Part: WIRE — CHAFED (PASSENGER DOOR)
STL - FLT 7508 - PASSENGER DOOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN FLIGHT. MAINTENANCE REPAIRED CHAFED WIRE AT PASSENGER DOOR. TEST REVEALED NORMAL OPERATION. (X)