19990411003549A

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 the 3 POB, the aircraft has substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (From .19) on April 11, 1999, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a mbb bk 117 A-3, N163BK, registered to and operated by rocky mountain holdings, LLC, as a title 14 CFR part 91 EMS positioning flight, collided with a building while hovering in preparation for takeoff at Sarasota/bradenton international airport, Sarasota, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot and two medical personnel flightcrew members were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated they were on a EMS flight to charlotte county airport, punta gorda, Florida, to pick up a patient. He and the other flightcrew members boarded the helicopter and he lifted it into a hover facing south. He called the FAA Sarasota control tower for departure clearance and the controller asked him to hold for landing traffic. The controller then asked if he could see the landing traffic. He moved the helicopter to the east, looking for the traffic. He then heard and felt a "thud" followed a second later by three more "thuds". It appears the helicopter had drifted back and the tail rotor had contacted the hangar. He maneuvered the helicopter away from the culvert and landed next to his original parking spot. After exiting the helicopter he noticed the tail rotor was damaged along with the landing gear. The hangar also had a 3-foot by 3-foot hole in it.(.4) on April 11, 1999, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a mbb bk 117 A-3, N163BK, registered to and operated by rocky mountain holdings, LLC, as a title 14 CFR part 91 EMS positioning flight, collided with a building while hovering in preparation for takeoff at Sarasota/bradenton international airport, Sarasota, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot and two medical personnel flightcrew members were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated they were on an EMS flight to charlotte county airport, punta gorda, Florida, to pick up a patient. He and the other flightcrew members boarded the helicopater and he lifted it into a hover facing south. He called the FAA Sarasota control tower for departure clearance and the controller asked him to hold for landing traffic. The controller then asked if he could see the landing traffic. He moved the helicopter to the east, looking for the traffic. He then heard and felt a "thud" followed a second later by three more "thuds". It appears the helicopter had drifted back the tail rotor had contacted the hangar. He maneuvered the helicopter away from a culvert and landed next to his original parking spot. After exiting the helicopter, he noticed the tail rotor was damaged along with the landing gear. The hangar also had a 3-foot by 3-foot hole in it. (-23)on April 11, 1999, at approximately 1645 local daylight time, a mbb bk 177 A-3 helicopter, N163BK, registered to and operated by rocky mountain helicopters as a title 14 CFR part 91 EMS positioning flight, collided with a building while hovering, in preperation for a takeoff at Sarasota/bradenton international airport (srq), Sarasota, Florida. Visual meteorological c onditions prevailed at the time and compant flight following was in affect. The aircraft received substantial damage. There was no post crash fire and the commerical rated pilot and two medical personnel flight crewmembers were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.