# Incident 20020826026219I: Bolkms BK117A4, Bradenton, FL, August 26, 2002

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 2002, 20:35 local time
- Place: Bradenton, FL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: R7MA
- Location: 27.4828° N, 82.5231° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4828&lon=-82.5231&mi=10
- Aircraft: N528SF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N528SF-2017-03-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter Deutschland MBB BK-117 A4 (registry code 5626035, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-mbb-bk-117-a4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honeywell LTS101-600 SR (registry code 33904, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-lts101-600-sr) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOLKMS BK117A4
- Reported engine: LYC LTS101*
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,800 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02IA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02IA160) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020826026219I

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON AUGUST 26, 2002, AT 2035 EDT, A EUROCOPTER MBB-BK117, N528SF, REGISTERED TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOLDINGS LLC, EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT ENGINE FIRE AND EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD NEAR BRADENTON, FLORIDA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A PART 135 AIR AMBULANCE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE AND THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT, FLIGHT NURSE, AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT NAPLES, FLORIDA ON AUGUST 26, 2002 AT 1950 HOURS. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AND A SIMULTANEOUS #2 ENGINE FIRE LIGHT. HE REPORTED AN INDICATION OF POWER LOSS IN THE #1 ENGINE AND THE AIRCRAFT YAWING SEVERAL TIMES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. ENGINE FIRE PROCEDURES WERE EXECUTED. AN AUTOROTATION LANDING WAS MADE AT THE INTERSECTION OF I-275 AND US41. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUTDOWN AND EVACUATED. THE PILOT EXTINGUISHED THE REMAINING FIRE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED FAILURE OF THE #2 ENGINE POWER TURBINE ROTOR BLADES. HALF OF ONE OF THE BLADES AND A PORTION OF ANOTHER SEPARATED FROM THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY AND EXITED THROUGH THE TAILPIPE. THE SUBSEQUENT IMBALANCE RESULTED IN A FIRE THAT EXITED THROUGH THE COMPRESSOR INLET AND THROUGH THE TURBINE EXHAUST CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COWLINGS AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENTS. THE FIRE WAS INGESTED BY THE #1 ENGINE CAUSING A POWER LOSS. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DESIGN DOES NOT INCLUDE A FIREWALL BETWEEN THE ENGINE COMPRESSOR INLETS TO BLOCK THE PASSAGE OF FLAME FROM ONE INLET TO THE OTHER.

## 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 MIA02IA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02IA160), Aug 27, 2002: Eurocopter Deutschland MBB BK-117 A4 (N528SF), Bradenton, FL, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: Improper maintenance/installation of the No. 2 engine power turbine (PT) wheel assembly by company maintenance personnel, which resulted in deflection at the engine case axial midpoint and…

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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