# Accident 20120724015589A: Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh MBB-BK 117 C-2, Houston, TX, July 24, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 24, 2012, 06:20 local time
- Place: Houston, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: GVNA
- Location: 29.7078° N, 95.3906° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7078&lon=-95.3906&mi=10
- Aircraft: N455MH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N455MH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 (registry code 5626002, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-mbb-bk-117-c-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1E2 (registry code 60035, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1e2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH MBB-BK 117 C-2
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,781 total, 597 in this make and model, 69 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12CA474](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA474) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120724015589A

## Narrative

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

MEDICAL FLIGHT (LIFE FLIGHT 5) FROM 70TS TO MEMORIAL HERMANN HOSPITAL S.E. WITH STOP AT 38TE TO PICK UP A NURSE. UPON APPROACH TO 38TE THE PILOT AND CREW HEARD A THUMP AND FELT A SHUDDER IN THE AIRCRAFT. UPON LANDING THE PASSENGER BOARDED THE AIRCRAFT AND THE FLIGHT CONTINUED TO FINAL DESTINATION. AFTER SHUT DOWN, WHILE CONDUCTING A WALK AROUND INSPECTION THE PILOT FOUND PART OF THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE COWLING MISSING AND DAMAGE TO ALL FOUR M/R BLADES.

## 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 CEN12CA474](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA474), Jul 24, 2012: Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 (N455MH), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect the unsecured cowling latches and resulted in the in-flight opening of an engine cowling.

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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