Feb 16, 2003
Accident
Destroyed MI 700
Injuries2 fatal, 3 serious
Phase of Flight-
ConditionsVMC
OperationFAR 135
Probable Cause
The catastrophic failure of the engine resulting from 1st stage turbine wheel blade failure due to type 1 hot corrosion (sulfidation). Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to brief the passengers on emergency safety equipment (life raft), the pilot's failure to deploy the skid-mounted emergency float system during the autorotation, the high wind conditions, and rough sea state.
NTSB FTW03FA097