# Accident 20000716007239A: Bolkms BK117A3, Allen, TX, July 16, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 16, 2000, 01:40 local time
- Place: Allen, TX
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: RMXA
- Location: 33.1007° N, 96.6609° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1007&lon=-96.6609&mi=10
- Aircraft: N312LS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOLKMS BK117A3
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW00LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA206) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000716007239A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT, DANIEL ARTHUR LESTER REPORTED THAT HE APPROACHED THE LANDING SITE FROM THE SOUTH, AMDE A 360 DEGREE RECONNAISSANCE AND APPROACHED TO LAND INTO THE WIND (SOUTHEAST), OVER A TELEGRAPH POLE. HE CAME TO A 6 TO 8 FOOT HOVER, WITH TREES AND TWO POSTBOX'S TO THE RIGHT AND A LARGE DITCH TO THE LEFT.  HE SLID SIDEWAYS TO THE LEFT AWAY FROM THE TREES AND STARTED A LEFT PEDAL TURN, TO FACE THE EMS UNITS BEHIDE HIM.  HE HAD TURNED APPROXIMATELY 120 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, WHEN HE MOVED BACKWARDS AND STRUCK THE TREES WITH THE TAIL ROTOR (T/R) BLADES.  HE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ANY TURNING AND MOVED FOWARD, AND HE STILL FELT LIKE HE HAD SOME T/R COTNROL.  HE STATED THAT THE COCKPIT WAS OVER THE DITCH WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SPIN AFTER COMPLETE T/R FAILURE, HE GOT THE AIRCRAFT BACK OVER THE ROAD, LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND LANDED HARD, THEN HE SHUT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN.

## 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 FTW00LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA206), Jul 16, 2000: Mbb BK-117-A3 (N312LS), Allen, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while hovering the helicopter. A contributing factor was the dark night light conditions.

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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