20240306001879A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 · West Lafeyette, IN · March 6, 2024

Date: March 6, 2024 · 21:40 local
Place: West Lafeyette, IN
Airport: Purdue University
Phase of flight: Taxi
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: HDNA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N191LL
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN24LA128
Reported as: Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK-117 C-2
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Airline transport
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,239 total

N191LLRegistered now · Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2S/N 9319 · Built 2009 Airframe modelEurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 Engine modelTurbomeca ARRIEL-1E2Turbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On March 6, 2024 at approximately 2140 EDT, a Eurocopter BK-117 C-2 helicopter was operating under part 135. While taxiing for takeoff, the craft entered into an uncontrollable spin and impacted the ramp at Purdue University Airport, west lafayette, IN. The impact caused substantial damage to the helicopter. There were 3 persons onboard, no injuries reported.

As the FAA filed it

ON MARCH 6, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 2140 EDT, A EUROCOPTER BK-117 C-2 HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING UNDER PART 135. WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, THE CRAFT ENTERED INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN AND IMPACTED THE RAMP AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY AIRPORT, WEST LAFAYETTE, IN. THE IMPACT CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER. THERE WERE 3 PERSONS ONBOARD, NO INJURIES REPORTED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN24LA128Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportWest Lafayette, INThe failure of maintenance personnel to properly install the tail rotor pitch change slider attachment hardware (T-bolt), which led to the disconnection of the pitch change slider, a loss of tail rotor control, and subsequent hard landing. Contributing to the…Mar 7, 2024 · Substantial damage