Eurocopter SA315B N929JV

Summary

On 30 March 2012 at about 14:43 local time, a Eurocopter SA315B registered N929JV, operated by Trans Aero, Ltd., was involved in an accident near Alva, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 March 2012 at 14:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Alva, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

36.7930, -98.6653

Aircraft

Eurocopter SA315B

Registration

N929JV

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Trans Aero, Ltd.

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alva → Alva

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA235

Nobody was injured.

Failure of the current and previous operators to comply with the manufacturer's maintenance procedures for operation in sandy environments, which resulted in turbine case erosion and the subsequent uncontained engine failure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was flying at 300 feet above the ground with an external load when the pilot heard a loud noise from the engine and the rotor rpm began to decay. He jettisoned the load and entered an autorotation. During the flare, the helicopter's main rotor blades contacted the tail rotor drive shaft. Engine disassembly and examination revealed that the turbine casing was deeply eroded by particles that had accumulated in the casing as a result of operating in dusty environments. The erosion caused a crack to develop, and non-uniform overheating of the engine led to the partial melting of the nozzle guide vanes and the rupture of the blade tips in all three turbine stages. Uncontained debris then punctured the turbine casing and shroud. According to the helicopter's maintenance records, the helicopter had operated 68 hours past a 100-hour inspection. The erosion in the engine was likely preexisting since it had been purchased second hand. Further, the records contained no entries pertaining to compliance with the manufacturer's maintenance procedures, by either the current or previous owner, for operations in sandy environments. The current operator reported that they have since complied with the manufacturer’s procedures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.