Volusia County Sheriff's Office

Operated by Volusia County Sheriff's Department (per NTSB report)

A total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of a third stage turbine wheel blade.

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control following a hard landing resulting from a failure to maintain rotor rpm.

Part: MOTOR — OVERHEATED (BLOWER)

THE PILOT REPORTED A BURNING RESIN ARDOR IN THE COCKPIT AND A SPONTANEOUS FAILURE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING. THE PILOT REPORTS THAT HE HAD JUST PICKED THE AIRCRAFT UP INTO A HOVER AND WAS PREPARING TO DEPART BASE WHEN THE FAILURE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING OCCURRED. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT AND PERFORMED A NORMAL SHUT DOWN. MAINTENANCE WAS ADVISED AND THE AIRCRAFT INSPECTED, THE CAUSE WAS QUICKLY ISOLATED TO THE FORWARD LEFT SIDE EVAPORATOR BLOWER MOTOR WHICH WAS WARM TO THE TOUCH. THE MOTOR WAS REMOVED AND FOUND TO BE SEIZED. THE MOTOR HAD RECENTLY BEEN REPLACED AND HAD ONLY 5.4 HOURS SINCE INSTALLATION. EVAPORATOR BLOWER CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPPED AND CAUSED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO EFFECTIVELY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS TYPE OF MOTOR HAS HAD A LOW FAIL RATE. CAUSE NOT KNOWN. MOTOR REPLACED

Part: FUEL CAP — NOT SEATED (FUEL TANK) · airframe 3,766 hrs · 6,098 cycles

A FUEL ODOR WAS NOTED BY THE FLIGHT CREW WHILE IN FLIGHT. PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AND INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL CAP. PILOT NOTED CAP WAS SECURE BUT NOT SEATED SQUARE AND FLUSH AND NOTED EVIDENCE OF FUEL AROUND THE FLANGE. PILOT RESEATED FUEL CAP AND RESUMED PATROL, NO FURTHER REPORTS OF FUEL ODORS WAS REPORTED. MAINTENANCE WAS ADVISED ON THE ISSUE AND A FURTHER INSPECTION WAS MADE AFTER RETURN TO BASE. NO LEAKS WERE NOTED AND NO ABNORMALITIES NOTED.

Part: SKIN — CRACKED (TAIL BOOM)

CRACK FOUND ACROSS TOP SKIN BETWEEN HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.