Air Evac EMS, Inc. - Non-injury incident

Date: 3/29/09 1815 CST

Program: Air Evac EMS, Inc.
	306 Davis Drive
	West Plains, MO 65775

Type: Bell  206L3
Tail #: N708M
Operator/Vendor: Air Evac EMS, Inc.

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, Flight Nurse, Flight Paramedic. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	On 03/29/2009 at approximately 1815 CDT our crew was completing an
	uneventful flight returning to base after refueling. The Pilot
	proceeded to perform a post flight inspection and found a large crack
	in one of the main rotor blades. The crack propagated from the
	trailing edge of the blade directly towards the rear of the spar. It
	then ?T?d? off and proceeded approximately 6? inboard and outboard.
	The crack went completely through the blade, but the spar was not
	compromised. No other signs of damage were noted to the blade. The
	aircraft was immediately grounded and released to maintenance. The
	NTSB and FAA are working with company officials and Bell Helicopters
	as we proceed to determine the Root Cause of this occurrence. 
	

Source: Seth Myers, President

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