Eurocopter AS355 N448JM

Summary

On 19 May 2022 at about 16:10 local time, a Eurocopter AS355 registered N448JM was involved in an accident near Palm Beach, Florida, 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

19 May 2022 at 16:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Palm Beach, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.4484, -80.0589

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS355

Registration

N448JM

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1997

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Palm Beach → North Perry

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA231

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in the unlatched engine cowling opening and being struck by a main rotor blade during flight. Contributing to the accident was the mechanic’s failure to properly secure the cowling following maintenance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot picked up the helicopter from a repair facility and while flying home heard a “boom,” felt a vibration in the tail, and performed a precautionary landing to a beach. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the engine cowling had become unlatched and was subsequently struck by a main rotor blade. The detached cowling then struck the horizontal stabilizer and tail rotor, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he did not confirm that the engine cowling latch was properly secured during his preflight inspection. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter before the cowling opened and detached.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.