Aerospatiale AS355F1 N101UC
29 October 1991 · Billings, Montana, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 29 October 1991 at about 02:15 local time, a Aerospatiale AS355F1 registered N101UC, operated by Omni Flight Helicopters, Inc, was involved in an accident near Billings, Montana, United States. 3 people were 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.
The record
- Date
- at 02:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Billings, Montana, United States
- Coordinates
- 45.8707, -108.4710
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS355F1
- Registration
- N101UC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Omni Flight Helicopters, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Billings → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- SEA92LA029
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
THE UNLATCHING AND SUBSEQUENT OPENING INFLIGHT OF THE LEFT-REAR ENGINE COWL DOOR. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO EXECUTE THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SHORTLY AFTER THE COMPANY INITIATED ABORT OF THE MEDEVAC FLIGHT, THE FLIGHT CREW OF THE AEROSPATIALE AS355 FELT A SHUDDER WHICH THEY ATTRIBUTED TO GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. UPON LANDING AT BILLINGS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MONTANA, A PORTION OF THE LEFT-REAR ENGINE COWL DOOR WAS FOUND TO BE SEPARATED, ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT OF THE BLADES. THE CREW HAD PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED COMPANY PERSONNEL OF THE COWL DOOR LATCH PROBLEM AND HAD PREFLIGHTED THE COWL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD ISSUED A RELEVANT SERVICE BULLETIN. THE SERVICE BULLETIN HAD NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED ON THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS355F1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 2001 | Aerospatiale AS355F1 | Rosebud, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 2003 | Aerospatiale AS355F1 | Madison, Florida, United States | C J Systems Aviation Group | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 2008 | Aerospatiale AS355F1 | New York, New York, United States | Liberty Helicopters | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-18-125 | Ekalaka, Montana, United States | Erlend D. Laird | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1991 | Aeronca 7BCM | St. Xavier, Montana, United States | Robert W. EPP | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 1991 | Cessna C175 | East Glacier, Montana, United States | Louis A. Sitzmann JR | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-25 | Musselshell, Montana, United States | Moore Quality Flying Service | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Fleet FL-80 | Havre, Montana, United States | Thorpe, John | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-18-150 | Roy, Montana, United States | Edward R. Peigneux | No injuries | - |