Bell 230 N880SF

Summary

On 1 July 2009 at about 23:15 local time, a Bell 230 registered N880SF, operated by OSF Aviation LLC, was involved in an incident near Peoria, Illinois, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 July 2009 at 23:15

Classification

Incident

Location

Peoria, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

General Downing - Peoria IAP (PIA)

Coordinates

40.6642, -89.6931

Aircraft

Bell 230

Registration

N880SF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

OSF Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Peoria → Peoria

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

CEN09IA618

Nobody was injured.

The loss of the number one hydraulic system fluid and hydraulic pressure during cruise due to the failure of the bolts that secure the hydraulic pump's cover.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot observed a caution light for the number one hydraulic system and a corresponding complete loss of hydraulic system pressure for that system. The pilot declared an emergency and performed a run-on landing. A postincident examination of the system's hydraulic pump revealed that two of its cover attachment bolts had separated. The bolt heads fractured in tension from their shanks via intergranular cracks which initiated at the filet radius between the bead and the shank. The bolt fractures exhibited intergranular fracture features over 90 percent of the surface. The operator’s incident report safety recommendation stated that the pump's cover bolts should be replaced at overhaul; however, it is not required. The helicopter had accumulated 269 hours since overhaul.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.