# Accident 20031129034419A: Bolkms BK117B2, Houston, TX, November 29, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 29, 2003, 02:50 local time
- Place: Houston, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: GVNA
- Location: 30.3917° N, 95.3283° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3917&lon=-95.3283&mi=10
- Aircraft: N440HH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOLKMS BK117B2
- Reported engine: LYC LTS101*
- Pilot flight hours: 6,346 total, 3,170 in this make and model, 77 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031129034419A

## Narrative

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

(-23) LOCAL MEDICAL EVACUATION FLIGHT WAS DISPATCHED TO UNPREPARED REMOTE LANDING SITE FOR PICK UP OF A PATIENT. OBSTRUCTING TALL TREES BOUNDED THE LANDING ZONE. AS THE PILOT TURNED THE HELICOPTER DURING REPOSITIONING FOR TOUCH DOWN, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE VEGETATION SURROUNDING THE LANDING AREA.(-23 AMENDMENT) 02-03-04 TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE SCRAPPED: "BLADES ARE REJECTED DUE TO DELAMINATION BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS". SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ASSESSED DUE TO MANUFACTURER REPORT AND LETTER FROM COMPANY DATED JANUARY 20, 2004 (ATTACHED). THIS REPORT UPGRADED TO AN ACCIDENT WITH CONSULTATION WITH NTSB: ^PRIVACY DATA OM^ NOW HAS ASSIGNED ACCIDENT NUMBER FTW04LA069.

## 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 FTW04LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA069), Nov 29, 2003: MBB BK 117 B-2 (N440HH), Conroe, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while repositioning in a confined landing zone. Contributing factors were the dark night light conditions and the confined area available to the…

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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