Corrosion caused deadly January chopper crash

 

     In January 2022, an AS565 Panther crashed due to corrosion in one of the engine components. This extremely rare corrosion within the turbine section caused one of the turbine blades to break off, sparking a fire that quickly spread. Two pilots lost their lives during this tragic event. Is there anything that could have avoided this tragedy?

     As a helicopter engine mechanic, I know this type of corrosion would have been tough to detect through scheduled maintenance inspections. This helicopter was scheduled for a manufacturing inspection 250 hours after the accident. In this case, the corrosion would have probably been identified. 

     Corrosion discrepancies are often overlooked as they will always continue to form. Identifying the type of corrosion and the treatment required definitely makes an impact and could potentially save a life. I highly encourage everyone to take corrosion very seriously in an effort to avoid tragedies like this one.

REFERENCE: 

Emanuel F. (July 3, 2022) Never before seen corrosion caused deadly January Chopper Crash IDF Concludes. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from: https://www.timesofisrael.com/never-before-seen-corrosion-caused-deadly-january-chopper-crash-idf-concludes/

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