N555EL
Registered owner: POLLUX AVIATION LTD, AK (owner ≠ operator)
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
| Operator | Role | Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| HELICOPTER AIR ALASKA, LLC (1TQC) | Certificate holder | — | Matched by certificate designator |
| POLLUX AVIATION LTD (UPXC) | Certificate holder | — | Matched by certificate designator |
| POLLUX AVIATION LTD (UPXC) | Operator | 2021-10-10 – 2021-10-10 | Operator named in NTSB report |
Accident & incident history
Maintenance disclosures
THE PILOT HEARD/FELT A POP, HAD AN INCREASE IN VIBRATION, AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO A POWER ASSISTED LANDING IN THE TUNDRA, UPON LANDING SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SHUT DOWN AIRCRAFT. SAW OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED MAINTENANCE. UPON MAINTENANCE GETTING THERE, WE FOUND THE INTAKE VALVE ON THE #1 CYLINDER WAS MISSING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE VALVE STEM AT THE KEEPERS HAD BROKEN, AND LET THE VALVE FALL INTO THE CYLINDER. WE FOUND THE PARTS OF THE VALVE IN THE INTAKE SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE. THE PISTON AND THE CYLINDER HEAD WERE HAMMERED.
THE PILOT HEARD/FELT A POP, HAD AN INCREASE IN VIBRATION, AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO A POWER ASSISTED LANDING IN THE TUNDRA, UPON LANDING SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SHUT DOWN AIRCRAFT. FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE. OIL ON EXHAUST, SAW OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED MAINTENANCE. UPON MAINTENANCE GETTING THERE, WE FOUND THE INTAKE VALVE ON THE #1 CYLINDER WAS MISSING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE VALVE STEM AT THE KEEPERS HAD BROKEN, AND LET THE VALVE FALL INTO THE CYLINDER. WE FOUND THE PARTS OF THE VALVE IN THE INTAKE SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE. THE PISTON AND THE CYLINDER HEAD WERE HAMMERED.