# Accident 19890409006799A: Bolkms BK117A4, Houston, TX, April 9, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 9, 1989, 06:49 local time
- Place: Houston, TX
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: GVNA
- Location: 29.7100° N, 95.3995° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7100&lon=-95.3995&mi=10
- Aircraft: N120HH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N120HH-1991-03-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 A-4 (registry code 5626017, https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-bolkow-blohm-bk-117-a-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOLKMS BK117A4
- Reported engine: LYC LTS101650B1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,700 total, 1,590 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW89FA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA078) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890409006799A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TAIL ROTOR STRUCK SIDE OF BUILDING WHILE DRIFTING BACKWARDS ON VERTICAL TAKEOFF. BEGAN SPINNING. DROPPED TO PAD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 FTW89FA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA078), Apr 9, 1989: MBB BK-117A-4 (N120HH), Houston, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE OBSTRUCTION (GARAGE). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, PERSONNEL IN THE AREA OF THE TEMPORARY HELIPORT,…

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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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