LifeFlight Eagle - Non-injury incident

Date: 11 August 2007 0930 cdt

Program: LifeFlight Eagle
	500 NW Richards Road
	Kansas City, MO  64116
	

Type: Bell 407
Tail #: N302LE
Operator/Vendor: CJ Systems

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	The aircraft was returning to base after completing a patient
	transfer.  While in flight, the aircraft experienced sudden and
	sustained vibration.  The pilot immediately initiated a precautionary
	landing in an open field without injury to persons or damage to
	aircraft or property.  The aircraft was secured at the location while
	maintenance isolated the source of the vibration to the tail rotor. 
	It was discovered that the tail rotor balance weight was missing from
	inside one of the blades.  New blades were installed and the aircraft
	was returned to service on 14 August.
	

Additional Info: 
	Locating new rotor blades contributed to the delay in returning the
	aircraft to service.  Caution was also taken as the mechanics worked
	outside in high heat indexes over 100 degrees. 

Source: Christine Zalar, President/CEO

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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 2007 ASTNA