Accident · 2022-09-24
What the record says
- Event date
- 2022-09-24
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- No injuries
- Aircraft
- AGUSTA AW139 (N811TA)
- Operating rule
- Part 135
- Operator
- Era Helicopters, LLC Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- Era Helicopters LLC
Probable cause
The inflight loss of collective control of the helicopter due to thermal damage of a collective control torque tube that abraded with misrouted electrical wiring, which resulted in an electrical short and inflight fire. Contributing to the accident were the incorrectly manufactured wiring support strip assembly that misrouted electrical wires near the collective control torque tube, the ambiguity of the support strip assembly drawing that allowed for its incorrect manufacturing, the inadequate quality control processes to identify the incorrectly manufactured support strip assembly, and the helicopter manufacturer’s inadequate assembly instructions that allowed the misrouting of the electrical wiring, due to the incorrectly manufactured strip assembly, on the helicopter production line.
Source: NTSB case CEN22LA430Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot pilot flying | Airline transport pilot | Helicopter | 32 | Class 1 (2021-11-24) | 2,160 total · 480 in this make/model |
| Co-pilot | Airline transport pilot | Helicopter | 35 | Class 1 (2022-07-18) | 3,706 total · 218 in this make/model |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.