Travis County STAR Flight - Non-injury incident

Date: 12/17/2006 0630 CDT

Program: Travis County STAR Flight
	7800 Old Manor Rd. 
	Austin, Texas 78724

Type: EC145
Tail #: N378TC
Operator/Vendor: Own Part 135

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, Flight paramedic and pediatric specialy team members . No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	STAR Flight 2 departed at 0620 local time to Waco Providence Hospital,
	with flight paramedic and two members of the Childrens Hospital of
	Austin pediatric transport specialty team aboard. 
	
	Weather at the time was VFR for the entire route, with good
	visibility and 8 knots of wind from the southeast.  
	 
	At ~0634 the crew experienced an audible ?pop?, simultaneous with
	moderate to severe airframe vibration. The vibration was audible in
	the cockpit and aft cabin as well.  About 5 seconds after the onset
	of vibration the tail rotor gearbox chip caution light came on. No
	other secondary indications were noted. 
	
	Austin Approach Control and Austin-Travis County EMS Communciations
	was informed of the problem, that the crew was aborting the mission
	and would be landing at the Georgetown (Texas) airport. Upon arrival
	at the airport a uneventful no-hover landing in a grassy area,
	touching down at ~0637 local time.  Shutdown and egress were normal. 
	
	 
	Initial post-flight inspection revealed a dynamic weight missing from
	one of the tail rotor blades.  It appeared initially that the mounting
	spindle for the weight had broken.  Additionally, the hinge pin on the
	intermediate gearbox access hatch was displaced about three inches
	upward from its normal position.  No other abnormalities were noted
	at that time. 
	
	The aircraft is currently being recovered for further inspection and
	repair. 
	
	STAR Flight resumed service in STAR Flight 1 (EC145) after an
	inspection of the tail rotor assembly. 
	

Source: Casey Ping, Program Manager

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The CONCERN network shares verified information to alert medical transport programs when an accident / incident has occurred. Please share the above information with your program staff. If you have further questions, please contact the CONCERN Coordinator, David Kearns at 800 525 3712 or email: coordinator@concern-network.org.

Copyright 2006 ASTNA