N728AM
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 LLC (QMLA) | Certificate holder | — | Matched by certificate designator |
Accident & incident history
Maintenance disclosures
CREW NOTED SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING IN COCKPIT. A/C WAS TURNED OFF AND THE SMELL BECAME LESS SEVERE.
SMELL OF FUEL IN CABIN. FLIGHT LEG ABORTED AND RETURNED TO AIRPORT. MECHANIC NOTIFIED AND RESPONDED. CHECKED ALL COMPONENTS AND AREAS OF HELICOPTER FOR SOURCE. NO FUEL LOCATED IN OR AROUND AIRCRAFT OR STRUCTURES, CABINS, COMPARTMENTS. PERFORMED ENGINE RUN-UP WITH NO ODOR OF FUEL. PERFORMED MX FLIGHT, NO ODOR DETECTED. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE. ALL CONNECTIONS, COMPARTMENTS, AND AREAS FREE OF FLUID AND ODORS.
ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1419 THE CREW DIVERTED TO AIRLIFE 4âS BASE AT THE NEWNAN, GA AIRPORT FOR WEATHER. DURING THE THREE MINUTE FLIGHT IN MODERATE RAIN, THE CREW NOTICED A COUPLE OF DROPS OF RAIN LEAKING IN NEAR THE ROTOR BREAK HANDLE BEFORE LANDING. AT APPROXIMATELY 1809 HOURS THE CREW WALKED BACK OUT TO THE HELICOPTER TO RETURN TO BASE. THE PILOT NOTICED THE UPPER GPS, TRANSPONDER, AND MULTIPLE ANNUNCIATOR LIGHTS ON. THE CREW COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL BURNING AND COULD HEAR AN ELECTRICAL SURGING SOUND. THE PILOT CONFIRMED THAT BOTH BATTERY SWITCHES WERE OFF AND CALLED MECHANIC MIKE KENNEDY WHO CONFIRMED THERE WAS NOT A WAY TO QUICK DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO PREVENT A FIRE.
PILOT CALLED AND REPORTED A COMPLETE AVIONICS FAILURE. AFTER LANDING I SPOKE WITH THE PILOT AND HAD HIM POWER THE AVIONICS BACK ON TO TELL ME THE SPECIFIC SYSTEMS THAT FAILED WHILE MECHANICS WERE ENROUTE. WE WERE ABLE TO DERMINE THAT THE AVIONIC SYSTEMS THAT DID FAIL WERE ON THE DCT/BAT SYSTEM, AND NOT A COMPLETE AVIONICS FAILURE. MAINTENANCE ARRIVED ON SITE AND VERIFIED FAILURE OF THE DCT/BAT SYSTEM. WE WERE ABLE TO BYPASS THE SWITCH AND TEST THAT THE SYSTEMS DID POWER ON. WE ORDERED AND REPLACED THE 35P CONTACTOR AND 30A PANEL DCT/BAT SWITCH. POST MAINTENANCE TEST WERE PERFORMED WITH NO ISSUES.
TAB, LEFT ELEVATOR. RECEIVED TAB ASSEMBLY, LEFT ELEVATOR NEW FROM MANUFACTURER MISSING THE REQUIRED RIVETS. ASSEMBLY WAS BONDED AND PRIMERED BUT HAD NOT BEEN RIVETED.