Investigators Point To Engine Governor

It could have been a lot worse. Fortunately, a Lee County (FL) Sheriff's Department Eurocopter AS350 was still on the ground when the helicopter experienced some kind of mechanical failure that caused it to shake violently.

The incident happened November 18, as pilot Pat Bruce began to throttle up for liftoff from Buckingham Air Field near Fort Myers, FL. The helo began to shake violently -- so much so, in fact, the Eurocopter sustained damage significant enough to warrant an "Accident" designation from the FAA.

Bruce was able to reduce speed and bring the helo under control before it left the ground. The Southwest Florida News-Press reports he was later treated at an area hospital for minor injuries.

Early speculation to the cause of the accident ranged from rotor imbalance to an unforeseen mechanical issue... but all agreed it was unlikely the pilot was to blame for the accident.

"It sounds like a failure mode that the pilot did not induce," said Pat Kelly, a former helo pilot for the county. "It's generally not a pilot error."

The FAA's Preliminary Report states the governor on the helo's single engine failed as Bruce increased power and rotor RPM for takeoff. That would cause the rotor to enter an overspeed condition, triggering severe oscillations.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 72LC        Make/Model: AS50      Description: AS-350/550 ECUREUIL, ASTAR, SUPERSTAR, F
  Date: 11/18/2006     Time: 1420

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Minor     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: FORT MYERS   State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N72LC, A LEE COUNTY SHERIFF PUBLIC USE EUROCOPTER AS350 ROTORCRAFT, AFTER
  START UP, ENGINE GOVERNOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND
  BOUNCING, FORT MYERS, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   1     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Business      Phase: Standing      Operation: OTHER

  Departed: FORT MYERS, FL              Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: 

  FAA FSDO: TAMPA, FL  (SO35)                     Entry date: 11/20/2006 #

FMI: www.faa.gov