N450AM
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 2019-03-03 | Operator named in NTSB report |
Accident & incident history
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.
2 reports on file, 2017-12-31 – 2024-10-25.
Part: ENGINE — MAKING METAL · airframe 4,370 hrs · 11,499 cycles
ENGINE CHIP LIGHT IN-FLIGHT I ACCEPTED A PATIENT FLIGHT REQUEST FOR AN INTERFACILITY TRANSFER FROM PINE RIDGE HOSPITAL TO MONUMENT HEALTH IN RAPID CITY, SD. FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL ENROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL AND THE PATIENT LEG. THE PATIENT WAS DROPPED OFF AND WE DEPARTED THE HOSPITAL. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND DURING THE CLIMB PHASE OF FLIGHT WE RECEIVED AN ENGINE CHIP LIGHT. OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND 10 MINUTES TO THE AIRPORT PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN THE NEAREST SUITABLE AREA. A DIRT PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO A CONCRETE PARKING LOT WAS SELECTED (N44 03.39 W103 13.36). AFTER SCANNING THE AREA, A SAFE LANDING WAS COMPLETED. ONCE SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT WAS WRITTEN UP AND TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE. PILOT NOTIFIED AIRCOM, OCC, RAM, AND MECHANIC. AFTER MAINTENANCE WAS COMPLETED, THE AIRCRAFT WAS PUT BACK IN SERVICE AND RETURNED TO BASE. MAJOR ENGINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED BY INSTALLING A NEW ENGINE SECTION DAYS PRIOR TO THE EVENT. ITâS BELIEVED THAT BREAK IN FUZZ CAUSED THE ENGINE CHIP LIGHT.
Part: LINE — CONTAMINATED (HEATER) · airframe 1,696 hrs · 3,916 cycles
CREW REPORTED AN ODOR COMING FROM THE HEATER DURING FLIGHT. HEATER SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED AND NO DEFECTS NOTED. SUSPECTED A SMALL AMOUNT OF SOAP AND WATER MIXTURE HAD GOTTEN INTO COMPRESSOR BLEED AIR HEATER LINE CAUSING A SHORT TERM ODOR WHEN HEATER WAS TURNED ON. PERFORMED GROUND RUN TO DETERMINE IF ODOR WAS STILL PRESENT WITH HEATER ON FULL HOT. SLIGHT ODOR WAS DETECTED BUT QUICKLY DISSIPATED IN 30 SECONDS, NO FURTHER ODORS WERE DETECTED. RETURNED TO SERVICE.