ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 75950
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| Date: | Friday 28 August 1998 |
| Time: | 11:53 LT |
| Type: |  MBB BK 117A-4 |
| Owner/operator: | St. Louis Helicopters |
| Registration: | N230H |
| MSN: | BK-117-A4 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1987 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3928 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming LTS-101-650B1 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Topeka, KS -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | (KFOE) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The accident occurred on a maintenance test flight after having had the No. 1 engine replaced. When returning from the flight a 'severe bump' and 'loud bang' were experienced followed by the helicopter rotating to the right. A pilot landed the helicopter in a field during which time it rolled over on its left side. Post accident inspection revealed the No. 1 engine cowling separated from the helicopter inflight. This damaged the main rotor blades which resulted in an imbalance and subsequent loss of the tail rotor gear box. Both Hartwell cowling latches appeared in the closed position; however, the aft latch was not damaged as was the forward latch. The manufacturer is aware of similar problems and has issued service bulletins addressing the problems. The latest service bulletin, SB-MBB-BK 117-20-109, had not been incorporated on the accident helicopter.
Probable Cause: the pilot's failure to assure the engine cowling was secured during the aircraft preflight which resulted in the cowling separating from the helicopter and damaging the main rotor and tail rotor system. Factors associated with the accident were the cowling not being secured and inadequate design of the latching system by the manufacturer.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CHI98LA342
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Jul-2010 11:03 | Alpine Flight | Added |
| 19-Aug-2010 13:58 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator] |
| 20-Nov-2012 12:41 | TB | Updated [Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 20-Nov-2012 12:42 | TB | Updated [Source] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 06-Apr-2024 11:22 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report] |
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