# N163BK: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 A-4, registration cancelled 2015-12-07 - Type: Cancelled registration (FAA registry, deregistered aircraft) - Cancelled: December 7, 2015 - Exported to: New Zealand - Status when cancelled: Valid registration - Airframe: [Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 A-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-bolkow-blohm-bk-117-a-4) (registry code 5626017) - Engine: [Lycoming LTS-101 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lts-101-series) (registry code 41560) - Data sheets: [TCDS H13EU](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/H13EU), [TCDS E5NE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/E5NE) (OpenAirDocs) - Serial number: 7063 - Type of aircraft: Rotorcraft - Engine type: Turbo-shaft - Airworthiness: Standard, transport - Airworthiness date: December 9, 1985 - Certificate issued: May 28, 2010 - Last registry action: November 25, 2013 - Mode S code: A0FCF6 - Owner when cancelled: [Air Methods Corp](https://openairdocs.org/faa-owner/AIR%20METHODS%20CORP) - Location: [Englewood, CO](https://openairdocs.org/faa-place/CO/Englewood) - Owner type: Corporation - Owner's area on the map: 39.5732° N, 104.8649° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at the center of ZIP code 80112, within about 2 miles (OpenAirDocs). The owner's mailing address, not where the aircraft was based - The mark today: https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N163BK - FAA registry: https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=163BK - Page: https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N163BK-2015-12-07 From the FAA registry file of October 31, 2026, cancelled registrations. Owners' street addresses are left out. The Mode S code belongs to the N-number, not the airframe. ADs and bulletins for the Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 A-4: https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-bolkow-blohm-bk-117-a-4.md ## Service difficulty reports (41) Matched to this aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model. - [SDR QMLA2014120314136](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/QMLA2014120314136), Dec 3, 2014: STRUCTURE. CRACKED. DURING REPLACEMENT OF MAIN TRANSMISSION STAY ASSEMBLY PN 117-11182-03 FOUND 5 CRACKS EMANATING FROM RIVETS NEAR THE AREA OF THE STAY ASSEMBLY. - [SDR QMLA2014042514043](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/QMLA2014042514043), Apr 25, 2014: CONNECTOR. DIRTY. ACFT HAD UNCOMMANDED YAW, CONTINUED AFTER PRESSING STABILIZATION CUT OFF PUSH BUTTON. LANDED AT NEARBY AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. INSPECTED ALL T/R LINKA - [SDR QMLA2012071212115](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/QMLA2012071212115), Jul 12, 2012: CYCLIC CONTROL. BINDING. DURING MX TEST FLIGHT, AFTER COMPLETION OF 3600 HR INSPECTION, COMPLETED GROUND RUN AND HOVER CHECKS. PROCEEDED TO TAKEOFF, AT APPROX 100 FT AGL SLOWLY ACCELERA - [SDR QMLA2012042112062](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/QMLA2012042112062), Apr 21, 2012: ENGINE. POWER LOSS. ON APPROACH, MASTER CAUTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH A NR 1 ENGINE LOW LIGHT FOLLOWED BY A LARGE TORQUE SPLIT ( NR 1 LOW AT 20 PERCENT AND NR 2 HIGH AT 80 PERCENT - [SDR QMLA2010071910039](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/QMLA2010071910039), Jul 19, 2010: FIREWALL. CRACKED. CRACK IN FIREWALL AFT MOUNTING HOLE. - [SDR R7MR706335141](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR706335141), May 9, 2002: SEAL RING. WORN. FIRST TURBINE SHROUD SEAL RING WORN BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR34817](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR34817), Feb 2, 2002: SEAL. LEAKING. NR 2 BEARING SEAL LEAKING BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR34816](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR34816), Feb 2, 2002: SEAL. LEAKING. NR 3 BEARING SEAL, LEAKING BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR SDRS2001002](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/SDRS2001002), May 25, 2001: BEARING. FAILED. THE AC EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL UNCOMMANDED YAW AND ROLL MOTION ON LANDING. LATERAL CYCLIC BELLCRANK CENTER BEARING FOUND TO HAVE FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE BELLCRANK - [SDR R7MR706335151](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR706335151), May 15, 2001: ROTOR. ERODED. ROTOR HAS EROSION. PENDING FURTHER INSPECTION . REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR706335135](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR706335135), May 15, 2001: FUEL NOZZLE. CRACKED. FUEL NOZZEL CRACKED. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR33351](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR33351), May 15, 2001: BUSHING. WORN. BUSHINGS WORN BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS AND ALSO LEAKS HYDRAULIC FLUID. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR706335136](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR706335136), May 9, 2001: CURL. CRACKED. CURL CRACKED BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR33075](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR33075), Oct 25, 2000: SEAL. LEAKING. LEAKING BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR33074](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR33074), Oct 25, 2000: SEAL. LEAKING. LEAKING BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR33070](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR33070), Oct 25, 2000: SEAL. LEAKING. LEAKING BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR33061](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR33061), Oct 25, 2000: CURL. BURNED. EXCESSIVE BURN IN SOME AREAS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR33059](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR33059), Oct 25, 2000: SHROUD. DAMAGED. EXCESSIVE GP BLADE TIP RUB. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR33055](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR33055), Oct 25, 2000: SPRING. WORN. WORN BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR33054](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR33054), Oct 25, 2000: SEAL RING. WORN. WORN BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR R7MR33051](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/R7MR33051), Oct 25, 2000: SLEEVE. WORN. WORN BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 20000918SH006](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/20000918SH006), Jun 28, 2000: IGNITION LEAD. SHORTED. IGNITION HAD INTERNAL SHORT. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. (X) - [SDR 20001107SH029](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/20001107SH029), Jun 10, 2000: SEAL. WORN. SEAL RING - FIRST TURBINE SHROUD, WORN BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. (X) - [SDR 20001107SH028](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/20001107SH028), Jun 10, 2000: SPRING. WORN. SPRING - SEAL RING EXPANDER, WORN BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. (X) - [SDR 20000721SH004](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/20000721SH004), Jun 2, 2000: MANIFOLD. MALFUNCTIONED. FUEL MANIFOLD ASSY CAUSES ENGINE TO RUN HOT. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. (X) - [SDR 20000720SH013](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/20000720SH013), Apr 26, 2000: FITTING. CRACKED. UPON INSPECTION, NOTICED A CRACK BEHIND UPPER LEFT BOLT HOLE EXTENDING TO RIVET HOLE. (X) - [SDR 20000721SH003](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/20000721SH003), Feb 2, 2000: BLADE. DEBONDED. LEADING EDGE SKIN UNDER BONDED PV-FILM IN NOSE AREA TO APPROXIMATELY BLADE STA 922 (SECTION 1) IS DEBONDING ON TRAILING EDGE, BOTH UPPER/LOWER SURFACES. (X) - [SDR 20000721SH002](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/20000721SH002), Feb 2, 2000: BLADE. DEBONDED. LEADING EDGE SKIN UNDER BONDED PV-FILM IN NOSE AREA TO APPROXIMATELY BLADE STA 922 (SECTION 1) IS DEBONDING ON TRAILING EDGE, BOTH UPPER/LOWER SURFACES. (X) - [SDR 20000721SH001](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/20000721SH001), Feb 2, 2000: BLADE. DEBONDED. LEADING EDGE SKIN UNDER BONDED PV-FILM IN NOSE AREA TO APPROXIMATELY BLADE STA 922 (SECTION 1) IS DEBONDING ON TRAILING EDGE, BOTH UPPER/LOWER SURFACES. (X) - [SDR 20000720SH014](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/20000720SH014), Feb 2, 2000: BLADE. DEBONDED. LEADING EDGE SKIN UNDER BONDED PV-FILM IN NOSE AREA TO APPROX BLADE STA 922 (SECTION 1) IS DEBONDING ON TRAILING EDGE, BOTH UPPER/LOWER SURFACES. (X) - [SDR 2000ZZZX778](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/2000ZZZX778), Nov 19, 1999: TUBE. LEAKING. TUBE LEAKING BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 2000ZZZX777](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/2000ZZZX777), Nov 19, 1999: COMBUSTION CHAMB. DAMAGED. EXCESSIVE BURN IN SOME AREAS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 2000ZZZX751](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/2000ZZZX751), Nov 19, 1999: SEAL. LEAKING. SEAL LEAKING BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 99ZZZX4074](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/99ZZZX4074), Aug 27, 1999: LEAD. WORN. LEAD WORN BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 99ZZZX774](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/99ZZZX774), Nov 9, 1998: TAIL PIPE. WARPED. TAIL PIPE HAS EXCESSIVE WARPAGE. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 99ZZZX840](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/99ZZZX840), Sep 24, 1998: SWITCH. INOPERATIVE. THERMO SWITCH UNIT INOPERATIVE. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 99ZZZX771](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/99ZZZX771), Sep 24, 1998: SENSOR. INOPERATIVE. SENSOR UNIT INOPERATIVE. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 99ZZZX212](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/99ZZZX212), Mar 9, 1998: CONTROL UNIT. FAILED. CONTROL UNIT FOR EXTERNAL LIGHTS HAS INTERNAL SHORT. TRIPPED CIRCUIT BREAKERS UPON INSTALLATION. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 98ZZZX1796](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/98ZZZX1796), Jan 26, 1998: BEARING. WORN. BEARING WORN BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. REPLACED WITH 2 EACH NEW UNITS, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 98ZZZX1356](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/98ZZZX1356), Jan 26, 1998: BLADE. DEFECTIVE. T/R BLADE PAINT BEGINNING TO PEEL. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. - [SDR 98ZZZX1355](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/98ZZZX1355), Jan 26, 1998: BLADE. DEFECTIVE. T/R BLADE PAINT BEGINNING TO PEEL. REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT, CORRECTED PROBLEM. ## NTSB investigations (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MIA99LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA129), Apr 11, 1999: Mbb BK 117 A-3 (N163BK), Sarasota, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain a visual lookout while maneuvering in a hover resulting in the tail rotor colliding with a building. ## FAA accident and incident reports (1) From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [Accident 19990411003549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990411003549A), Apr 11, 1999: Bolkms BK117A3 (N163BK), Sarasota-Brand, FL, Substantial damage. Rocky mountain air air ambulance (a bokow BK-117A-3 helicopter) tail rudder struck a building on take-off, and the acft crashed, no injuries were reported to… --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.