Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ N238AM

Summary

On 31 May 2008 at about 00:50 local time, a Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ registered N238AM, operated by Air Methods Corporation, was involved in an accident near Pottsville, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 May 2008 at 00:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Pottsville, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Mazzuca Heliport (PS95)

Coordinates

40.6861, -76.2103

Aircraft

Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+

Registration

N238AM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Air Methods Corporation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pottsville → Wayne Township

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

NYC08FA198

3 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to ensure that both engine switches were in the FLIGHT position for takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After taking off on a helicopter emergency medical service mission, the twin-engine helicopter climbed approximately 75 feet. The pilot lowered the nose, but the helicopter would not climb or accelerate normally. The pilot saw 125 percent on one of his gauges, but was not sure which gauge it was as he was looking outside. A "gong" sounded, similar to what the pilot had heard when doing "max takeoffs," but he did not hear an engine-out horn or see any warning lights. The pilot also noticed that one torque indication was declining to "near zero" percent, and the helicopter began to yaw. The pilot was able to correct the yawing moment with anti-torque inputs, and remembered lowering the collective and "pulling pitch" before the helicopter impacted the ground in a level attitude. The No. 1 engine was running as the pilot exited the helicopter, but the No. 2 engine was not. Examinations at the accident site revealed that the helicopter, after lifting off from the heliport, flew out of ground effect over down-sloping terrain, settled, then struck a parked semi-trailer about 80 feet below the heliport. No preimpact mechanical anomalies of the helicopter, engines, or engine switches were found. As part of the pre-takeoff confirmation check, the pilot was required to ensure that both main engine switches were in the FLIGHT position; however, onboard recorded data revealed that the No. 2 main engine switch was in the IDLE position during the takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.