What happened
On August 1, 2009, a Eurocopter EC130B4, registration M-BOAT, was involved in a forced landing on the water near Deer Isle, Maine. The flight, which was conducted under Part 91 regulations, departed from a privately owned motor yacht at approximately 16:50 EDT. The aircraft was flying along a shoreline at an altitude of roughly 400 feet above mean sea level.
During the flight, the pilot entered an out-of-ground-effect hover and initiated a left-pedal turn. During this maneuver, the helicopter began turning more rapidly than intended, and the pilot was unable to regain directional authority. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude and impacted the water. Before the impact, the pilot deployed the emergency skid-mounted floats to prevent the aircraft from sinking.
The pilot and three passengers sustained 4 minor injuries, and there were no fatalities.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage was performed by the FAA Rotorcraft Directorate. The investigation found that the tail boom, right horizontal stabilizer, fenestron, and fin had damage consistent with main rotor blade strikes. The drive system, including the drive shafts, couplings, and gearbox, showed signs of impact damage. Control tubes connecting the swashplate to the hub exhibited fractures consistent with an overload condition from the impact.
The engine was displaced from its normal mounting position. While the leading edges of the gas producer blades were damaged, the engine gas producer and power turbine rotated freely. Inspections of the magnetic plugs, chip detector, and fuel and oil filters revealed no metallic particles or debris. No evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure or malfunction was identified.