Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105S N131EH

Summary

On 6 September 2009 at about 19:00 local time, a Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105S registered N131EH, operated by ERA Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and one 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

6 September 2009 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Thibodaux Municipal (L83)

Coordinates

29.7478, -90.8328

Aircraft

Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105S

Registration

N131EH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

ERA Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Thibodaux → Thibodaux

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09LA571

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inability to maintain control due to the mechanic's inadvertent switching of two cyclic control tubes of different lengths during maintenance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in a 3-foot hover the helicopter began an uncommanded roll to the right. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to arrest the roll by applying full left cyclic. Moments later the right landing skid made contact with the ground, followed by the main rotor blades. The helicopter came to rest in a right-side-low, upright position and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. The purpose of the flight was to perform an operational flight check of maintenance performed to the cyclic control system. The investigation revealed that the mechanic who had performed the maintenance had inadvertently switched two cyclic control tubes, of different lengths, during reassembly. This resulted in an out-of-rig condition in the cyclic control system. No other preimpact anomalies were noted with the helicopter's flight control system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.