# Accident 20250424003989A: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2, Hartford, IL, April 24, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 24, 2025, 20:51 local time
- Place: Hartford, IL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 38.8377° N, 90.0958° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8377&lon=-90.0958&mi=10
- Aircraft: N880SL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N880SL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2 (registry code 5626013, https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-bolkow-blohm-bk-117-b-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming LTS-101 series (registry code 41560, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lts-101-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MESSERSCHMITT-BOLKOW-BLOHM BK 117 B-2
- Reported engine: LYCOMING LTS-101 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,450 total, 611 in this make and model, 49 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250424003989A

## Narrative

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

THE PIC ACCEPTED A PUBLIC RELATIONS EVENT FLIGHT AND COMPLETED THE CERTIFICATE HOLDER'S RISK ANALYSIS FORM. THE PIC DID NOT DOCUMENT ON THE RISK ASSESSMENT FORM THAT THE LANDING ZONE WAS AN UNIMPROVED LANDING SITE. THE PIC CONDUCTED THE FLIGHT AND LANDED AT THE SITE WITHOUT INCIDENT. DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE LANDING ZONE, THE PIC ATTEMPTED A VERTICAL TAKEOFF, ORIENTED TO THE NORTH. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER DRIFTED AFT AND CONTACTED A TREE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE LANDING ZONE. THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY ENTERED A RAPID, UNCONTROLLABLE YAW, FOLLOWED BY AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST, UPRIGHT, WITH THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND, AND THE ENGINES STILL OPERATING. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT, WHICH INCLUDED THE CERTIFICATE HOLDER'S BASE PILOT SUPERVISOR AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL, EXTRACTED THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT ENGINES. ONE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO SELF EXTRACT. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

## 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 CEN25LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA163), Apr 25, 2025: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 (N880SL), Hartford, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb at night from a confined area landing zone, that resulted in an impact with a tree, a loss of control, and a subsequent…

## Other reports on N880SL (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20150703011199I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150703011199I), Jul 3, 2015: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2 (N880SL), Cahokia, IL, No damage. On July 3, 2015, at approximately 1615 central daylight time aircraft N880SL, a Messerschmitt bk 117 B-2, owned and operated by air methods corporation (doing…

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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