JACK HARTER HELICOPTERS, INC.

Operated by JACK HARTER HELICOPTERS INC — Rotorcraft external load (133), On-demand air taxi (135), Commercial air tour (136) Operator Does Business As: (per NTSB report)

AT LANDING PILOT REPORTED MAIN BLADE CONTACT WITH TREE BRANCHES WITH NO CHANGE IN RPM. MECHANIC DETERMINED PER MDHI CSP HMI-2 THAT THERE WAS NO SUDDEN STOPAGE DUE TO NO CHANGE IN ROTOR RPM. MECHANIC INSPECTED AIRCRAFT MAIN ROTOR BLADES FOR DAMAGE AND FOUND SMALL DENTS ON THE BOTOM OF THE YELLOW S/N 733F AND GREEN SN 731F BLADES. MECHANIC MEASURED THE DENTS AND FOUND THEM TO BE IN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS THAT REQUIRE NO REPAIRS AND THE BLADES CAN CONTINUE IN SERVICE.

PILOT REPORTED INTERMITTENT MAIN GEARBOX CHIP LIGHT DURING APPROACH TO LANDING. MAGNETIC PLUG INSPECTION REVEALED METAL CONTAMINATION BEYOND ACCEPTABLE LIMITS AND TRANSMISSION WAS REMOVED FOR REPAIR.

DURING A POST FLIGHT MAINTENANCE INSPECTION A SMALL DENT WAS DISCOVERED ON THE OUTBOARD FACE OF ONE OF THE AIRCRAFT TAIL ROTOR BLADES. PILOT REPORTED THERE WAS NO INDICATIONS OR NOISE OF ANYTHING STRIKING THE BLADE. THE BLADE DENT WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SERVICEABLE LIMITS. TAIL GEARBOX, HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL FINS, TAILBOOM, AND DRIVSHAFTS AND COUPLINGS INSPECTED PER MDHI SPECIAL INSPECTIONS SECTION. NO DAMAGE NOTED. AIRCRAFT WAS APPROVED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE.

FOUND SMALL CRACK IN LEFT HAND STIFFENER UNDER CABIN FLOOR.

LIGHT CORROSION DISCOVERED BENEATH COWLING LATCHES ON LEFT AND RIGHT HAND FLOOR EDGING PART NUMBERS 350A21-1359-21 AND 350A21-1359-20

LIGHT CORROSION FOUND ON RIGHT AND LEFT HAND AFT DOOR JAMBS.

SMALL CRACK FOUND WEBBING UNDER CABIN FLOOR.

SMALL CRACK FOUND IN STIFFENER UNDER CABIN FLOOR.

SMALL CRACK FOUND IN LEFT HAND RIB UNDER CABINE FLOOR.

LIGHT CORROSION FOUND ON THE CABIN FLOOR UNDER THE PILOT AND COPILOT SEAT RAILS. DURING A 12 YEAR INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.

LIGHT CORROSION SPOTS FOUND ON LEFT AND RIGHT HAND FUSELAGAGE SKINS UNDER STAILESS ENGINE DECK. LH SKIN PART NUMBER 350A21-1022-127 AND RIGHT-HAND SKIN PART NUMBER 350A21-1022-128

SERVERAL CRACKS FOUND IN FUSELAGE CANOPY ALONG THE INTERIOR LOWER FRAME FOR THE LEFT AND RIGH-HAND WINDOWS.

PILOT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE CHIP LIGHT DURING LANDING. ENGINE REMOVED FROM AIRCRAFT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

PILOT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE CHIP INDICATION DURING APPROACH. MAINTENANCE PERFORMED CLEANING AND GROUND RUNS AND RETURNED TO SERVICE.

DURING A SCHEDULED 100 HOUR MAINTENANCE INSPECTION ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE MECHANIC QUESTIONED THE DARK BURNT APPEARANCE OF THE GREASE IN THE • BEARING, OVERRUNNING CLUTCH BALL OUTPUT. PER OPERATOR REQUEST THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS DISASSEMBLED AND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF METAL WAS DISCOVERED IN THE RACE, CLUTCH OUTER. THE ASSEMBLY WAS SENT TO AN MD REPAIR STATION FOR INSPECTION. WEAR WAS FOUND ON THE CAGE OF THE SPRAG ASSEMBLY. NO EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS WERE PERFORMED WITH THIS CLUTCH IN SERVICE.

DURING AIRCRAFT INSPECTION AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC QUESTIONED DISCOLORING OF THE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH OUTPUT BEARING GREASE. THE BEARING DID NOT DEMONSTRATE ANY ABNORMAL PLAY OR ROUGHNESS. THE CLUTCH HAD THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL INSTALLED. IT WAS DECIDED TO DISASSEMBLE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. IT APPEARED THE FORWARD BEARING WAS ROTATING IN THE OUTER RACE HOUSING. UNOFFICIAL MEASUREMENT OF THE OUTER RACE HAD IT OVER LIMITS. METAL PARTICLES WERE FOUND IN THE REMAINING OIL IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OUTER RACE HOUSING. THE PART WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE FOR FURTHER INSPECTION.

AFTER DEPARTURE PILOT EXPERIENCED SLIGHT NG FLUCTUATION AND SLIGHT YAW MOTION. PILOT RETURNED FOR LANDING. DURING TROUBLE SHOOTING MAINTENANCE OF THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROL UNIT, MAINTENANCE FOUND INSIDE THE ACCELERATION CONTROLLER CHAMBER THAT THE LOWER CIRCLIP WAS MISSING FROM FROM A LEVER PIN AND A SPRING FROM THE PIN WAS DISENGAGED FROM THE PIN. FUEL CONTROL WAS REMOVED FROM ENGINE TO BE SENT TO REPAIR SHOP.

UDRING STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED LOW ENGINE TORQUE. THE PILOT SELECTED A LANDING SPOT AND PERFORMED AN UNEVENTFUL PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED TO A MAINTENANCE LOCATION AND THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FOR INSPECTION. NO CAUSE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME.

DURING A POST FLIGHT INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACK ON THE AFT END OF THE RIGHT-HAND STATION 174 DOUBLER CONNECTING THE BOOM FAIRING AND TURTLE BACK OF THE UPPER AFT FUSELAGE.

DURING FLIGHT THE PILOT NOTICED THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO THEN THE ENGINE OIL TEMP WENT TO ZERO. THE INSTRUMENT CIRCUIT BREAKER THEN POPPED. THE PILOT LANDED WITHOUT ISSUE. THE PILOT RESET THE CIRCUIT BREAKER ONCE SHUT DOWN AND MAINTENANCE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MOISTURE WAS FOUND ON THE FUEL QUANTITY SENDING UNIT CANNON PLUG WHICH WAS CLEANED AND INSPECTED. A LOOSE CONNECTION WAS FOUND ON THE COLLECTIVE HOBBS METER SWITCH AND THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. OPERATIONAL CHECKS POST MAINTENANCE WERE FOUND GOOD.

ENGINE GEARBOX CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING APPROACH FOR LANDING. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER GEARBOX MAGNETIC CHIP DETECTOR HAD ILLUMINATED THE WARNING LIGHT WITH METAL ABOVE THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED. A SMALLER AMOUNT OF METAL WAS FOUND ON THE LOWER PLUG AS WELL. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AS TO THE CAUSE.

PILOT GOT AN ENGINE CHIP LIGHT DURING FLIGHT AND PERFORMED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. MAINTENANCE FOUND EVIDENCE OF CHIPS ON THE LOWER AND UPPER ENGINE GEARBOX CHIP DETECTORS. ENGINE REMOVED FROM AIRCRAFT FOR INSPECTION.

DURING A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR HUB DROOP STOP FOLLOWER ROLLER SHAFTS WAS FOUND PROTRUDING DOWNWARD FROM THE PLUNGER ASSEMBLY. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE COTTER PIN HAD WORN INSIDE THE ROLLER SHAFT AND HAD LOST ITS RETAINING ABILITY.

DURING MAINTENANCE THE MECHANICS DETERMINED THE FIRST STAGE TURBINE BLADES WERE RUBBING ON THE NOZZLE.ASSEMBLY REMOVED FROM ENGINE

DURING A POST FLIGHT INSPECTION A MECHCANIC FOUND A 1/4 X 1/4 INCH DENT IN THE LEADING EDGE OF A MAIN ROTOR BLADE 42 INCHES IBOARD FROM THE TIP OF THE BLADE.

DURING COAST DOWN AFTER POST INSPECTION GROUND RUNS MECHANICS HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE MODULE 4 AND MODULE 5 AREA. TURBOMECA WAS CONTACTED AND HAS REQUESTED THAT THE MODULES BE SENT IN FOR ANALYSIS.

DURING MAINTENANCE GROUND RUN CHECK OPERATIONS ENGINE FUEL WAS NOTICED COMING OUT OF THE FUEL CONTROL CASE AND LEAKING TO THE GROUND. FUEL CONTROL WAS REMOVED FOR INVESTIGATION AND A SERVICABLE UNIT INSTALLED.

FUEL LEAKING FROM LEFT HAND FUEL BLADDER. REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HAND BLADDERS.

ENGINE CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN ENGINE WAS BROUGHT TO FLIGHT IDLE AFTER ENGINE START UP. MAINTENANCE FOUND 2 FLAKES WITHIN LIMITS ON THE UPPER CHIP PLUG.A 30 MINUTE GROUND RUN WAS PERFORMED, THE PLUGS WERE INSPECTED AGAIN AND FOUND CLEAN. AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVICE.

ENGINE CHIP LIGHT DURING FLIGHT. MAINTENANCE FOUND 4 FLAKES ON UPPER AND LOWER PLUGS WITHIN PARAMETERS. PERFORMED AN OIL SYSTEM DRAIN, FLUSH AND FILTER CLEAN AND CHANGE AND GROUND RUN. CHIP PLUGS WERE CLEAN UPON REINSPECTION. AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.

THE BOTTOM SKIN OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE HAS A 4 1/2 INCH CRACK STATING AT THE TRAILING EDGE AND PERPENDICULAR TO SPAN 57 1/4 INCHES IN FOR BLADE TIP.

DURING A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE PILOT NOTICE A MAIN ROTOR GEARBOX DIMMLY ILLUMINATED CHIP LIGHT. MAINTENANNCE DISCOVERED AND INTERNAL SHORT IN THE CHIP DETECTOR AND REPLACED WITH SERVICABLE.

DURING A POST MAINTENANCE OPERATIONAL CHECK FLIGHT THE MAIN ROTOR GEARBOX CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A PIECE OF METAL WAS FOUND ON THE CHIP PLUG. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REMOVED AND A SERVICABLE TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED.

PILOT REPORTED AND ENGINE CHIP LIGHT AND PERFORMED AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING. MAINTENANCE FOUND 1 SLIVER ON THE UPPER GEARBOX CHIP PLUG. THE PLUG WAS CLEANED AND A PENALTY ENGINE RUN WAS PERFORMED IN REFERENCE TO THE ENGINE OMM. THE PLUGS WERE FOUND CLEAN AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS PLACED BACK IN SERVICE.

DURING 100 HOUR MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, A SMALL FUEL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RIGHT FUEL BLADDER. BLADDER WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AND ENGINE CHIP LIGHT INDICATION OCCURRED. THE PILOT PERFORMED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. MAINTENANCE DISCOVERED METAL FLAKES ON UPPER AND LOWER ENGINE CHIP PLUG. PER MAINTENANCE MANUAL INSTRUCTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REMOVAL FROM THE AIRFRAME FOR ANALYSIS.

DURING A POST FLIGHT INSPECTION BY AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC TAIL ROTOR LEADING EDGE DELAMINATION WAS FOUND. BOTH TAIL BLADES WERE REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND REPLACED WITH NEW.

PILOT EXPERIENCED A MAIN ROTOR GEARBOX CHIP LIGHT ENROUTE TO THE AIRPORT. MAINTENANCE EXAMINED THE SYSTEM CHIP DETECTORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FOUND NO CHIP OR ABNOMALIES. AN OPERATIONAL TEST FLIGHT WAS PERFORMED AND FOUND SATISFACTORY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.

EXTREME PLAY FOUND BETWEEN MAIN ROTOR PITCH HOUSING AND PITCH BEARING HOUSING. THE UPPER BOLT STILL HAD TORQUE STRIP APPLIED BETWEEN NUT WASHER AND BOLT BUT WAS LOOSE IN PIECES DUE TO THE WEAR. THE UPPER BOLTS ON TWO OTHER PITCH HOUSINGS WERE FOUND TO BE UNDER TORQUED BUT TORQUE STRIPED.

PILOT REPORTED AN ENGINE CHIP LIGHT. MAINTENANCE FOUND A SMALL PIECE OF CARBON (LESS THAN.5MM) ON REAR BEARING CHIP PLUG. PERFORMED LEVEL "B" CHECKS IN REF TO ENGINE MANUAL. RETURNED AIRCRAFT TO SERVICE WITH CONDITION CHECKS.

DURING MAINTENANCE A MECHANIC DISCOVERED EXCESSIVE GEARPLAY IN THE MAIN ROTOR TRANSMISSION. THE UNIT WAS REMOVED FOR REPAIR

PILOT REPORTED TURBINE OUTLET TEMPERATURE INCREASE AT END OF FLIGHT. MAINTENANCE DISCOVERED COMPRESSOR BLADES DAMAGED BY UNKNOWN FOD.

DURING A POST FLIGHT INSPECTION MAINTENANCE FOUND A SMALL FUEL LEAK AT THE OUT FITTING LOCATION ON THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROL UNIT. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED WITH A SERVICEABLE UNIT.

FOUND DELAMINATION ON MAIN ROTOR BLADE STAINLESS STEEL LEADING EDGE.

DAMAGE WAS FOUND IN AREAS A AND H ON 4 OF THE 5 MAIN ROTOR BLADE BOTTOM SKINS APPROXIMATELY 6" FROM THE BLADE TIPS. MAINTENANCE DETERMINED IAW CSP HMI-2 MM THAT IT WAS REPAIRABLE DAMAGE AND NO SUDDEN STOPPAGE INSPECTION WAS REQUIRED. AFFECTED BLADES WERE REMOVED FOR REPAIR AND SERVICEABLE MAIN ROTOR BLADES INSTALLED.

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE APROXIMATELY 1" INBD FROM THE TIP ON THE TOP OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE, PN 500P2100-105, SN 907B A .5" X .5" DELAMINATION WAS FOUND ON THE STAINLESS STEEL L/E OF THE BLADE. THE BLADE WAS REMOVED FROME THE ACFT AT THIS TIME.

PILOT GOT AN INTERMITTENT ENGINE CHIP LIGHT INDICATION AFTER TAKEOFF AND RETURNED FOR LANDING. MAINTENANCE FOUND LIGHT EXTINGUISHED BUT FOUND METAL ON UPPER AND LOWER ENGINE CHIP PLUGS. ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACFT FOR FURTHER INSPECTION.

DURING A MAINTENANCE GROUND RUN OPERATION A HIGH LATERAL VIBRATION WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE ACFT WAS SHUTDOWN. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED THE BLADE DURING A HEAVY RAINFALL THE NIGHT BEFORE. ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE THE WATER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE BLADE WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACFT FOR EVALUATION.

ENGINE CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING TOUR FLIGHT. THE PILOT LANDED ACFT AND CALLED MAINTENANCE. MAINTENACE FOUND METAL FLAKE MEASURING LESS THAN .03125 ON UPPER AND LOWER ENGINE CHIP PLUGS. AFTER CLEANING THE PLUGS A 30 MINUTE GROUND RUN WAS PERFORMED AND THE PLUGS WERE RECHECKED AND FOUND CLEAN. THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.

DURING GROUND RUN AFTER THE FIRST START OF THE DAY THE ENGINE CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. MAINTENANCE INSPECTED THE UPPER AND LOWER ENGINE PLUGS AND FOUND 1 SLIVER ON THE UPPER PLUG. A 30 MINUTE GOUND RUN WAS PERFORMED AND THE PLUGS WERE RECHECKED AND FOUND CLEAN. THE ACFT WAS RELEASED TO SERVICE.