Benefis Mercy Flight - Non-injury incident

Date: 6/25/09 1200 MST

Program: Benefis Mercy Flight
	1101 26th Street South   Great Falls, MT  59405

Type: AS 350 B2
Tail #: N911GF
Operator/Vendor: Metro Aviation

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

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

Description: 
	At 1208 on 6/25/09 during lift off to PR flight, N911GF experienced a
	sudden loss of engine power at approximately 3 feet AGL.  At that time
	rotor RPM decreased and the aircraft was brought to the ground without
	injuries or damage.The crew departed the aircraft and a PAIP was
	initiated by our dispatch center.   PIC was unable to reproduce the
	anomaly immediately afterward and the aircraft was taken out of
	service and grounded at the hospital helipad.  
	
	

Additional Info: 
	The engine in N911GF at the time of the incident was a loaner engine
	installed on 6/24/09.  N911GF?s primary engine pulled for a routine
	inspection.  After the aircraft was placed back into service it flew 2
	successful trips prior to the anomaly surfacing. 
	
	After additional testing the anomaly was able to be reproduced. It
	was found that the metered bleed air line was installed incorrectly
	prior to its shipment to our location.  The line had been checked
	during installation and  appeared to be installed correctly but due to
	the way it was installed the problem was not able to be duplicated
	every time. The fuel control unit, start drain valve and the overspeed
	drain valve were replaced with overhauled units as an additional
	precaution. The aircraft was placed back into service on 6/27 after
	extensive testing.  
	

Source: Scott Schandelson, Chief Flight Nurse

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