Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-1 N271NE

Summary

On 4 December 2010 at about 14:00 local time, a Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-1 registered N271NE, operated by ERA Med LLC, was involved in an incident near Boston, Massachusetts, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 December 2010 at 14:00

Classification

Incident

Location

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Brigham & Women's Hospital (MA39)

Coordinates

42.3361, -71.1058

Aircraft

Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-1

Registration

N271NE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

ERA Med LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oak Bluffs → Boston

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11IA091

Nobody was injured.

Improper installation of wiring associated with a medical cabinet interior, which resulted in chafing and a subsequent in-flight fire. Contributing to the incident was inadequate maintenance procedures for continued airworthiness.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the air ambulance flight, the helicopter was on final approach to land when smoke and flames were observed emanating from the suction control mounted on the left side of the cabin. The fire was subsequently extinguished, and the pilot landed the helicopter without further incident. Postincident examination revealed fire damage on the face of an overhead medical cabinet that was part of a medical interior installed about 7.5 years prior to the incident per a supplemental type certificate. A sheathed wiring bundle for a 120-volt alternating current power outlet mounted in the aft end of the cabinet displayed chafing damage and arcing consistent with rubbing on the metal housing for the vacuum control switch. The wiring was installed without adequate clearance or support to prevent it from chafing on the switch housing. The helicopter was maintained under an approved inspection program; however, review of the instructions for continued airworthiness associated with the medical cabinet installation did not reveal any required inspections of the associated wiring harnesses for general condition or chafing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.