ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 225342
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| Date: | Wednesday 15 May 2019 |
| Time: | 18:33 LT |
| Type: |  Sikorsky S-76D |
| Owner/operator: | Arkansas Childrens Hospital |
| Registration: | N761AF |
| MSN: | 761039 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2013 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2488 hours |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney PW210S |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Morrilton, Conway County, AK -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Springdale, AR (14AR) |
| Little Rock, AR (AR62) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot of the helicopter air ambulance flight reported that he experienced fumes in the cockpit while enroute, and shortly thereafter, received visual and aural warnings of smoke in the aft baggage compartment. The pilot initiated an emergency descent into an alternate airport, declared an emergency with air traffic control, and landed uneventfully.
Examination of the helicopter revealed that the No. 2 engine exhaust duct was disconnected and unseated, which resulted in engine exhaust entering the compartment containing the tail rotor drive shaft and substantial heat damage to the drive shaft and surrounding areas. Examination of the No. 1 engine exhaust duct revealed that its attach bolts were not tightened to the specified torque value. Additionally, examination of the operator's other helicopter revealed that the bolts securing both of its two exhaust ducts were not tightened to the specified torque value. The maintenance history of these components was not determined, but given the available information, it is likely that they were improperly secured, which resulted in their loosening and subsequently allowed the exhaust duct to become unseated.
Probable Cause: The improper securing of the exhaust duct bolts, which resulted in the duct becoming unseated and substantial heat damage to the tail rotor drive shaft.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CEN19LA146
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N761AF
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N761AF
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 12 March 2022 | N761AF | Arkansas Children's Hospital | 0 | Wadley Regional Medical Center (64XS), Texarkana, TX | |
sub |
Location
Media:
After an emergency landing, investigators found that an S-76D engine duct was partially detached. Multiple fasteners were found loose. https://t.co/QJvE6gGuxV #helicopter #airambulance #accident #flightsafety #aviationsafety pic.twitter.com/7yCKiOrsIP
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) October 12, 2021
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-May-2019 08:45 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 22-May-2019 23:18 | Geno | Updated [Total occupants, Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Nov-2020 10:08 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Total occupants, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Oct-2021 18:59 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Oct-2021 20:28 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 08-Jul-2022 17:59 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
| 17-Nov-2023 18:21 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
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