Eurocopter AS 350 B2 incident near Seattle, Washington, May 22, 2012
On May 22, 2012 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (helicopter), registered N105TV, suffered minor damage in an incident during maneuvering near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of maintenance personnel to ensure that the tail rotor pitch change link bolt was properly secured, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the bolt and subsequent vibration.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2012 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · all AS 350 B2s on the register
- Registration
- N105TV · no longer on the register · serial 2279
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had just entered a slow orbit when the helicopter experienced what he described as a severe vibration. The vibration was continuous and so severe that the pilot diverted to a nearby airport and landed. Postincident examination of the helicopter revealed that one of the tail rotor pitch change link bolts (to the pitch arm) was missing. The incident flight followed a 100-hour maintenance inspection that concluded earlier that day. The inspection included maintenance and service to the tail rotor assembly. The pilot reported that the pitch change link bolt (to pitch arm) was not correctly tightened and secured while in maintenance and subsequently loosened and released during the flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Flight control sys malf/fail during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Scheduled maint checks › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,423 hours in all; 7,230 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 19,426 as pilot in command; 1,616 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 16, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,501 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 22, 2012; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,960 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1D1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: King Broadcasting CO
The flight
- Departed from: KBFI Seattle WA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: Seattle WA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KBFI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.