N697AM
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.
6 reports on file, 2019-04-26 – 2025-03-17.
Part: CHIP DETECTOR — CONTAMINATED (ZONE 200) · airframe 4,373 hrs · 6,271 cycles
INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION CHIP LIGHT IN FLIGHT. FOUND SMALL SLIVERS ON LOWER CHIP DETECTOR. AMOUNT AND TYPE CONSIDERED NEGLIGIBLE. - CHANGED FILTER.
Part: ENGINE — MAKING METAL · airframe 3,934 hrs
ENGINE CHIP LIGHT ON TAKE OFF. ENGINE CHANGE INITIATED.
Part: TRANSMISSION — MAKING METAL (MAIN) · airframe 3,756 hrs · 9,690 cycles
MAIN TRANSMISSION CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN FLIGHT DURING CLIMB SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. PILOT ABORTED FLIGHT AND RETURNED TO THE BASE. MECHANIC PERFORMED UNWANTED PARTICLE INSPECTION AND FOUND ONE SLIVER. NORMAL FINDINGS AFTER MAJOR MAINTENANCE (MAST REPLACEMENT) IAW BH407GX MM DMC-407-A-63-00-00-01A-310A-A TABLE 1. NO ACTION REQUIRED. HOWEVER, MECHANIC PERFORMED DRAIN AND FLUSH, CHANGED TRANSMISSION OIL FILTER. PILOT PERFORMED GROUND RUN AFTERWARDS WITH NO FURTHER CHIP INDICATIONS.
Part: MOTOR — FAILED (EVAC BLOWER) · airframe 3,742 hrs · 9,647 cycles
DURING FLIGHT, PILOT EXPERIENCE SMOKE COMING FRONG THE COCKPIT AC VENTS. PERFORMED PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, GA. 3/21/2024 APPROX 1700. MECHANIC PERFORMED A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE AC EVAPORATOR BLOWERS AND CONFIRMED THAT THE RH FWD EVAPORATOR BLOWER MOTOR HAD FAILED. DEFERRED IAW AMC MEL 2140-02.2 CATEGORY C REV 22 DATED 02/12/2019. PARTS PLACED ON ORDER UNDER MR-020421-24.
Part: ENGINE — FAILED (ENG BAY) · airframe 3,599 hrs · 9,292 cycles
DURING RETURN FLIGHT FROM PATIENT DROP OFF ENGINE CHIP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LANDED WITHOUT ISSUE. MECHANIC REMOVED CHIP DETECTOR AND FOUND MULTIPLE METAL PARTICLES AND PARTICLES IN FILTER. PERFORMED DRAIN AND FLUSH AND ATTEMPTED 30 MIN PENALTY RUN. ENGINE WAS MAKING LOUD HIGH PITCHED NOISE AND AIRCRAFT WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. PERFOMED NORMAL SHUT DOWN AND REINSPECTED CHIP DETECTORS AND FOUND MORE METAL PARTICLES. REPLACED ENGINE WITH SN CAE-848586 IAW BH407GX MM DMC-407-A-71-00-00-00A-720A-A ISSUE 002 - 2021. MOC OK. AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVICE.
Part: CHIP DETECTOR — ACTIVATED (ENGINE) · airframe 1,056 hrs · 2,269 cycles
DURING 2ND START OF THE DAY WITH PATIENT AND MEDICAL CREW LOADED, WITH ENGINE AT GROUND IDLE, ENG CHIP CAUTION ILLLUMINATED, EXTINGUISHED, THEN REAPPEARED. AIRCRAFT WAS SHUT DOWN AND MAINTENANCE NOTIFIED. AIRCAFT WAS PLACED OUT OF SERVICE FOLLOWING INSPECTION OF MAGNETIC CHIP DETECTORS BY BASE MECHANIC.