Repair of Severely Damaged Composite Fuel Pod

Helikopter Service Model 234 LN-OMK on opening day and on its first revenue flight at Sola Airport on February 14, 1989, started up its rotors and, after the second revolution, experienced a blade strike in the tunnel area. It was reported that winds were gusting up to 45 knots, resulting in excessive flapping. The aircraft was behind a hangar which aggravated the wind flow relative to the aircraft. The initial impact in the tunnel area was unfortunate in the fact that control rods were impacted causing the aft rotor swashplate to go hard over nose pitch down. The next impact, further down the side of the fuselage, fractured two of the rotor blades. The fractured rotor blades impacted the composite fuel pod. Extensive damage was experienced on the fuselage lefthand shoulder area from STA. 200-320, W. L. O. O to crown, with some airframe damage in the crown at STA. 400-440. Initially, the fuel pod appeared to have minor damage. The fuel cell was not damaged.