What happened
On October 5, 2018, at 06:40 LMT, a professional helicopter pilot performing a pre-flight inspection prior to assuming a HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) duty at EPKE Kielce identified structural damage to the aircraft. The pilot observed a crack in the lower portion of the tail skid, specifically along the mounting point of the electrostatic discharge wicks.
Following the discovery, the pilot consulted with the technical control center (CKT). As a precautionary measure, the EC 135P2+ was removed from flight service to undergo technical evaluation.
The investigation
Technical personnel from the maintenance station (SOT) at Warszawa Babice conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft. The maintenance team performed required checks in accordance with MSM 05-51-00, 6-3. During this process, no further irregularities or secondary damages were identified. To rectify the issue, the maintenance crew replaced the tail boom skid in accordance with AMM 53-50-02, 4-2. Following the successful replacement and verification, the helicopter was returned to operational service.
Findings
- The primary cause of the damage was contact between the tail boom skid and the ground.
- No further technical discrepancies were found during the follow-up inspection.