N438CM
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.
7 reports on file, 2010-04-14 – 2020-05-29.
Part: FRAME — CRACKED (TAILBOOM) · airframe 5,855 hrs · 22,287 cycles
AFT RING FRAME CRACKED ON LEFT HAND SIDE OF TAILBOOM. THIS AIRCRAFT REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE AT THE TIME OF THIS SUBMISSION PENDING AN APPROVED REPAIR.
Part: PUMP — FIRE (RIGHT) · airframe 5,580 hrs · 21,187 cycles
WHILE EN-ROUTE TO PICK-UP A BABY WITH THE NICU TEAM AND THE SPARE ISOLETTE, A PUMP ON THE ISOLETTE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT MEDIC WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A BOTTLE OF WATER BEFORE THE FLIGHT NURSE WAS ABLE TO PASS THE FLIGHT MEDIC THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HOSPITAL COMMUNICATIONS WERE INFORMED OF THE INCIDENT IMMEDIATELY. PERFORMED A LANDING IN A VACANT LOT ON INDEPENDENCE BLVD. CHARLOTTE FIRE AND POLICE RESPONDED. CHARLOTTE MEDIC RESPONDED AND TRANSPORTED THE NICU CREW (WITH A DIFFERENT ISOLETTE) TO THE REFERRING HOSPITAL AND COMPLETED THE TRANSFER BY GROUND. CONCORD BASE MECHANIC ALSO RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND CONDUCTED A THOROUGH CHECK OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE DEFECTIVE ISOLETTE WAS
Part: ANGLE — CRACKED (XMSN DECK) · airframe 4,622 hrs · 17,341 cycles
DURING A 12 MONTH INSPECTION, FOUND A CRACK APPROX 1.5 INCHES LONG ON THE RT FORWARD MAIN GEARBOX DECK AT THE TRANSITION TO THE CABIN ROOF ABOVE THE NR 4 BULKHEAD. THE CRACK IS LOCATED IN THE RADIUS OF THE DOUBLER THAT MAKES THE TRASITION. REPAIRED IAW SRM 51-71-53,8-7.
Part: UNKNOWN — ODOR (CABIN) · airframe 4,010 hrs · 14,925 cycles
ENROUTE, REAR CREWMEMBER REPORTED A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY TRAVELLED TO THE COCKPIT. FLIGHT WAS ABORTED AND RETURNED WITHOUT INCIDENT TO DEPARTURE. INSPECTED THE FWD AND MID BELOW PANELS, AND EQUIPMENT SHELF. FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY BURNED WIRES OR PLASTIC. RAN AIRCRAFT FOR 10 MIN AT POWER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ODOR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.
Part: FRAME — CRACKED · airframe 3,948 hrs · 14,701 cycles
A CRACK WAS FOUND AT FRAME 5A, RT TOP MOST HOLE EMINATING FROM THE RIVET HOLE TO EDGE OF DOUBLER (APPROXIMATELY .25"). THIS AIRCRAFT WAS PLACED OUT OF SERVICE. AN APPROVED REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. MAJOR REPAIR.
Part: CONNECTOR — MELTED (AFT EVAPORATOR) · airframe 865 hrs · 3,159 cycles
ON FINAL TO BASE, A SLIGHT ELECTRICAL ODOR WAS NOTED TO BE COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT VENT/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. ACFT HAS AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STC SR00565DE INSTALLED. TECH DISCOVERED EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING ON THE CONNECTOR ON WIRE HARNESS PN EC-135-8010-3. CONNECTOR IS MADE UP OF A PLUG, PN 03-09-1032 AND A RECEPTACLE, PN 03-09-2022. NOTIFIED MFG TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND DISCOVERED THAT MFG HAD ISSUED SB EC135-8010 REPLACING THE EFFECTED WIRE HARNESS AND CONNECTOR. MFG HAD NOT TRANSMITTED THE SB AND IT WAS NOT POSTED ON THEIR CUSTOMER SUPPORT WEBSITE.
Part: POWER SUPPLY — DEFECTIVE (INSTRUMENT LIGHT) · airframe 128 hrs · 447 cycles
DURING A NIGHT FLIGHT, THE AIRSPEED, ALTIMETER & CLOCK BACK LIGHTING WENT FULL BRIGHT. ADJUSTING THE LIGHTING RHEOSTAT HAD NO EFFECT. THE CREW NOTICED A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL IN THE COCKPIT. ACFT RETURNED TO BASE WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. LIGHTING POWER SUPPLY FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE & REPLACEMENT ORDERED.