Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ N226SA

Summary

On 18 June 2022 at about 22:10 local time, a Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ registered N226SA, operated by Metro Aviation INC, was involved in an accident near Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States. 4 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.

Date

18 June 2022 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Waukeska County Airport (UES)

Coordinates

43.0396, -88.2393

Aircraft

Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+

Registration

N226SA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

2

Operator

Metro Aviation INC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wauksha → Elkhorn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA258

Nobody was injured.

The separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After takeoff during an air medical flight, about 150 ft above ground level (agl), the pilot heard a "thump,” and the helicopter pitched up. The pilot immediately executed an emergency landing, and all occupants exited the helicopter uninjured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fenestron blades. Examination of the helicopter at the accident site revealed that the fairing cover was missing from fenestron assembly and was found fragmented about 600 ft in all directions. There was no evidence of a bird strike. The fairing cover fragments that were found showed damage consistent with ingestion into the rotating blades of the fenestron. All attachment hardware for the cover were accounted for and showed no evidence of preaccident failure. The damage to the fenestron housing was consistent with object ingestion. No preaccident failures or malfunctions were found with the fenestron body, fenestron blades, gearbox, or fenestron drive. The helicopter flew about 5.8 hours without incident after the most recent maintenance of the fenestron and no uncorrected maintenance anomalies were found in the maintenance logbooks. The reason for the separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.