SE-HOM

Information

This aircraft was constructed by Bell Helicopter back in 1978. It spent its first nine years in the US prior to coming to Sweden.

The aircraft was imported to Sweden in 1989, purchased by Fiskflyg. It became the second Jet Ranger in Fiskflyg's fleet (after SE-HII).

Fiskflyg is using the helicopter for a wide range of operations, which includes air taxi, reindeer herding, sling-load jobs as well as transporting hunters, hikers and fishermen to remote places in the wilderness.

Accident
SE-HOM was damaged in an accident during a periodic operator’s proficiency check in the vicinity of the Porjus village on 8 November 2012. The experienced crew had just performed an autorotation when the whole main rotor separated from the helicopter and landed in the snow next to the airframe. The helicopter remained upright with no injuries to the two occupants.

The Swedish Accident Investigation Board concluded that the fracture on the main rotor driveshaft was caused by a design flaw in the freewheel unit's lubrication system that allowed for possible debris to obstruct the oil flow to the unit. The possible debris where considered to be in such size that they could be present in a PART 145 maintenance shop.

Returning to service
SE-HOM was extensively repaired and checked in the winter of 2012/13 and it soon returned to service.