ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 264809
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| Date: | Sunday 19 August 2018 |
| Time: | 13:20 |
| Type: |  Eurocopter EC 130B4 |
| Owner/operator: | Blue Hawaiian Helicopters |
| Registration: | N11QP |
| MSN: | 4715 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2009 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 13211 hours |
| Engine model: | Safran Arriel |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Shipman Estate, near Hilo, Hawaii, HI -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Test |
| Departure airport: | Hilo International Airport, HI (ITO/PHTO) |
| Hilo International Airport, HI (ITO/PHTO) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A Eurocopter EC 130 B4 helicopter, N11QP, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii. The pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries.
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight, which originated from Hilo International Airport (ITO), Hilo, Hawaii, was for the track and balance of the main rotor blades. He conducted a previous flight in the helicopter that day but returned to ITO early due to issues with the track and balance equipment.
Before the accident flight, the pilot conducted a walk-around inspection of the helicopter, during which he visually checked to ensure all the doors, cowlings, and equipment were closed and secured. The pilot and the passenger, a maintenance apprentice who was seated in the right front seat, departed ITO about 13:10. The pilot stated that, after completion of the maintenance checks and while en route back to ITO, he lowered the collective to decelerate and began a slow descent. He then heard the left-rear sliding door suddenly slide open. The pilot looked back and saw the door off the helicopter in midair. He stated that he turned his head forward, then heard a loud noise and felt a jolt. The helicopter began to vibrate but remained controllable. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing onto a grass field. He indicated that the door appeared to have struck two main rotor blades and that he thought the door fell into the ocean.
Probable Cause and Findings
The separation of the left sliding door in flight after it opened for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in damage to the main rotor blades.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
https://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2019-0001
http://aerossurance.com/helicopters/ec130-door-loss-mrb-damage/
Location
Media:
EC130 Door Loss Damaged Main Rotor Blades: On 24 June 2021 #NTSB reported on this occurrence. A design deficiency was addressed by a subsequent Airworthiness Directive.https://t.co/o3R2zPy6c7#helicopter #accident #airworthiness #flightsafety #aviationsafety pic.twitter.com/GLqOzzlvEj
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) July 3, 2021
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Jun-2021 19:32 | harro | Added |
| 03-Jul-2021 13:03 | Aerossurance | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Jul-2021 13:36 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
| 09-Jun-2023 14:49 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Embed code]] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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