3 fatal · AMERICAN EUROCOPTER LLC AS 350 B3 · 2010-07-28 · Tucson, AZ, USA
Event
NTSB number
WPR10FA371
Event ID
20100728X92614
Type
Accident
Date
2010-07-28
Location
Tucson, AZ, USA
Coordinates
32.256111, -110.956665
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
3
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
3
Aircraft
Make
AMERICAN EUROCOPTER LLC
Model
AS 350 B3
Registration
N509AM
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The repair station technician did not properly install the fuel inlet union during reassembly of the engine; the operator’s maintenance personnel did not adequately inspect the technician's work; and the pilot who performed the post maintenance check flight did not follow the helicopter manufacturer's procedures. Also causal were the lack of requirements by the Federal Aviation Administration, the operator, and the repair station for an independent inspection of the work performed by the technician. A contributing factor was the inadequate oversight of the repair station by the Federal Aviation Administration, which resulted in the repair station performing recurring maintenance at the operator’s facilities without authorization.