Summary
On March 13, 2009, a Bell 222 (N222LL) was involved in an incident near Milliken, CO. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The separation of the left engine cowling for undetermined reasons.
A witness on the ground was actively watching the helicopter when he saw several pieces fall off the helicopter and subsequently land in his yard and a neighbor's yard. The commercial pilot said he was in enroute cruise at approximately 1,500 feet above ground level when he felt a "bump on the controls" and heard a "bang" and thought he had had hit a bird. He returned to his departure airport 45 miles away for an otherwise uneventful landing. On post flight inspection the pilot discovered the lower portion of the left engine cowling was missing and there was evidence the cowling pieces had struck both main rotor blades and both tail rotor blades, but no evidence of bird remains were found.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN09CA218. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N222LL.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The separation of the left engine cowling for undetermined reasons.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
A witness on the ground was actively watching the helicopter when he saw several pieces fall off the helicopter and subsequently land in his yard and a neighbor's yard. The commercial pilot said he was in enroute cruise at approximately 1,500 feet above ground level when he felt a "bump on the controls" and heard a "bang" and thought he had had hit a bird. He returned to his departure airport 45 miles away for an otherwise uneventful landing. On post flight inspection the pilot discovered the lower portion of the left engine cowling was missing and there was evidence the cowling pieces had struck both main rotor blades and both tail rotor blades, but no evidence of bird remains were found. The impact caused substantial damage to the left engine cowling, both tail rotor blades, the tail rotor yoke, and the tail rotor gearbox. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot said that before departure he had conducted a preflight inspection, however the FAA Inspector that examined the helicopter, and the separated pieces of the left engine cowling, found no evidence of bird remains and no damage to the cowling latches that would have prevented them from operating normally prior to the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN09CA218