Eurocopter AS 350 B2 N105TV

Summary

On 22 May 2012 at about 21:30 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 registered N105TV, operated by King Broadcasting Co, was involved in an incident near Seattle, Washington, United States. 2 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

22 May 2012 at 21:30

Classification

Incident

Location

Seattle, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Boeing Field (BFI)

Coordinates

47.4669, -122.3353

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350 B2

Registration

N105TV

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

King Broadcasting Co

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seattle → Seattle

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12IA248

Nobody was injured.

Failure of maintenance personnel to ensure that the tail rotor pitch change link bolt was properly secured, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the bolt and subsequent vibration.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had just entered a slow orbit when the helicopter experienced what he described as a severe vibration. The vibration was continuous and so severe that the pilot diverted to a nearby airport and landed. Postincident examination of the helicopter revealed that one of the tail rotor pitch change link bolts (to the pitch arm) was missing. The incident flight followed a 100-hour maintenance inspection that concluded earlier that day. The inspection included maintenance and service to the tail rotor assembly. The pilot reported that the pitch change link bolt (to pitch arm) was not correctly tightened and secured while in maintenance and subsequently loosened and released during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.