N520CF
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 |
| AIR METHODS LLC (QMLA) | Operator | 2022-07-26 – 2022-07-26 | Operator named in NTSB report |
Accident & incident history
Maintenance disclosures
PILOT SMELLED UNKNOWN FUMES COMING FROM REAR OF AIRCRAFT. WAS COMING IN TO LAND AT MIAMI VALLEY HOSPITAL AND DIFERTED TO MORAINE AIRPARK (OUR MAINTENANCE HANGAR). UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE #1 NAV RADIO TO HAVE A BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL COMING FROM IT. CAPPED AND STOWED WIRES AND MEL'D THE SYSTEM.
CLIMB OUT FROM A SIMULATED ENGINE FAIL USING THE TRAINING SWITCH IN A SA365. SMOKE AND FUMES IN THE COCKPIT PREDOMINATELY ON COPILOT SIDE. NOTICED THE HEAT LEVER WAS SLIGHTLY FORWARD SHUTOFF, SMOKE AND FUMES REDUCED AND WENT AWAY. RETURNED TO FIELD AND LANDED. FOUND OIL LEAKING FROM SPLIT LINE OF COMPRESSOR MODULES 1 AND 2, ON NR 2 ENG CAUSED OIL INGESTION INTO BLEED AIR HEAT SYS, AFTER INSPECTING ENGINE IT IS DETERMINED THAT A MODULE 2-3 REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED.
THE MECHANIC WAS PERFORMING AN AIRWORTHINESS INSP AND FOUND A CRACK ON THE CANOPY FRAME AT THE TOP OF THE PILOTS DOOR OPENING APPROX 5 IN FWD OF THE 14 DEGREE FRAME. THE CRACK PROPOGATES THROUGH 2 ANCHOR NUT HOLES FOR THE INTERIOR TRIM AND GREENHOUSE WINDOW. THE MECHANIC IS WORKING WITH AEC FOR AN APPROVED REPAIR. THE ACFT REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE AT THIS TIME.
THE PILOT SMELLED FUEL IN THE COCKPIT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE BASE AND HAD MECHANIC INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT. MECHANIC DID FIND A LOOSE B-NUT THAT WAS LEAKING ON THE FUEL RETURN LINE FOR THE NR 2 ENGINE. THE MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE B-NUT, PERFORMED A GROUND RUN TO CHECK FOR LEAKS. NO FURTHER LEAKS OR ODORS WERE DETECTED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.
DEPARTED, AROUND 0309 LOCAL, HEARD A LOUD BANG. FLT NURSE STATED WE LOST WINDOW. CALLED COMMS CTR & SAID WE WERE ABORTING & LANDING. COMMS CTR INITIATED THE PIAP. CALLED SAFE ON DECK . COMMS CTR CALLED APPROACH & STATED WE WERE DOWN & SAFE. CALLED COMMS CENTER TO CONFIRM SAFE ON DECK. OBSERVED THAT THE FWD UPPER RETAINING PIN FOR DOOR FRAME WAS PARTIALLY RETRACTED. EXAMINED JETTISON HANDLE. NOTED NO PROTECTIVE SHIELD IN PLACE, SHEAR WIRE JEPORDIZED AND JETTISON HANDLE PARTIALLY ROTATED. THIS COULD ALLOW UPPER PART OF DOOR FRAME TO BECOME EXPOSED TO THE AIR STREAM ALLOWING THE AIR TO CATCH THE UPPER DOOR FRAME, BENDING IT AFT & DOWNWARD BREAKING THE WINDOW.
UPON SHUTDOWN, PILOT SMELLED SMOKE, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM NR1 ENGINE, OPENED COWLING SAW SMALL FIRE ON STARTER GENERATOR, RAN BACK TO COCKPIT ACQUIRED THE HANDHELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND PUT FIRE OUT. DISCOVERED A BRAIDED OIL VENT LINE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TERMINAL ON THE STARTER GENERATOR, AND CAUGHT THE RUBBER PROTECTIVE BOOT OF THE STARTER GENERATOR ON FIRE. NO FURTHER DAMAGE.
DURING MAINTENANCE GROUND RUNS, STARTED NR 1 ENGINE AND NR 2 ENGINES TO PERFORM REQUIRED MAINTENANCE CHECKS AFTER INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT AND ENGINES. SHUTDOWN ENGINES TO MAKE TAILROTOR BLADE WEIGHT CHANGE. ATTEMPTED TO START NR 1 ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY ROTATE COMPRESSOR AND COULD NOT. REMOVED STARTER/GENERATOR AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN COMPRESSOR. STILL WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER ENGINE COOLED DOWN, WAS ABLE TO TURN COMPRESSOR BY HAND AND HEARD TURBINE RUB. HP TURBINE DISK IS RUBBING. CHANGING MODULE 2 AND 3 OF AFFECTED ENGINE. PILOT REPORTED NO ABNORMITIES DURING FIRST RUN OF NR 1 ENGINE.
DURING MAINTENANCE GROUND RUNS, STARTED NR 1 ENGINE AND NR 2 ENGINES TO PERFORM REQUIRED MAINTENANCE CHECKS AFTER INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT AND ENGINES. SHUTDOWN ENGINES TO MAKE TAILROTOR BLADE WEIGHT CHANGE. ATTEMPTED TO START NR 1 ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY ROTATE COMPRESSOR AND COULD NOT. REMOVED STARTER/GENERATOR AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN COMPRESSOR. STILL WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER ENGINE COOLED DOWN, WAS ABLE TO TURN COMPRESSOR BY HAND AND HEARD TURBINE RUB. HP TURBINE DISK IS RUBBING. CHANGING MODULE 2 AND 3 OF EFFECTED ENGINE. PILOT REPORTED NO ABNOMALIES DURING FIRST RUN OF NR 1 ENGINE.