Following a maintenance inspection for an oil leak; helicopter pilot experiences in-flight loss of a...

Attributes
ACN	703984
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : col.vor
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 1100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	AS 350 Astar/Ecureuil
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 236 flight time total : 1950 flight time type : 157
ASRS Report	703984
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	maintenance : technician
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other other other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After questioning maintenance about small transmission oil leak; the helicopter was ready for flight. I was scheduled for a photo flight. The photographer came out to aircraft and was given safety briefing. Approximately 15 mins into flight; I heard a bang to which I lowered collective and slowed the aircraft. I checked engine parameters and flight controls to which I did not find any abnormalities. In order to make sure that there wasn't any damage to the aircraft; I continued flight to the next approved landing site; where I performed a normal approach and landing. Upon exiting the aircraft; I found that the right side transmission cowling was no longer on the aircraft. There was a small dent in the horizontal stabilizer and tail rotor blade. Maintenance was flown to the helicopter and deemed that the aircraft would be flat bedded back.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FOLLOWING A MAINT INSPECTION FOR AN OIL LEAK; HELI PLT EXPERIENCES INFLT LOSS OF ASSOCIATED COWLING.

Narrative: AFTER QUESTIONING MAINT ABOUT SMALL TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK; THE HELI WAS READY FOR FLT. I WAS SCHEDULED FOR A PHOTO FLT. THE PHOTOGRAPHER CAME OUT TO ACFT AND WAS GIVEN SAFETY BRIEFING. APPROX 15 MINS INTO FLT; I HEARD A BANG TO WHICH I LOWERED COLLECTIVE AND SLOWED THE ACFT. I CHKED ENG PARAMETERS AND FLT CTLS TO WHICH I DID NOT FIND ANY ABNORMALITIES. IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY DAMAGE TO THE ACFT; I CONTINUED FLT TO THE NEXT APPROVED LNDG SITE; WHERE I PERFORMED A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG. UPON EXITING THE ACFT; I FOUND THAT THE R SIDE TRANSMISSION COWLING WAS NO LONGER ON THE ACFT. THERE WAS A SMALL DENT IN THE HORIZ STABILIZER AND TAIL ROTOR BLADE. MAINT WAS FLOWN TO THE HELI AND DEEMED THAT THE ACFT WOULD BE FLAT BEDDED BACK.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Following a maintenance inspection for an oil leak; helicopter pilot experiences in-flight loss of associated cowling.