- Date
- November 13, 2011, 04:05 local (10:05 UTC)
- Place
- Carbondale, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N330SLMesserschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2
- Defining event
- Standing-engine(s) operating: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20111113027979A
- Case key
- 82376
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The main rotor blade’s contact with the vertical stabilizer during the engine shutdown in strong, gusty wind conditions.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During an engine shutdown procedure following an emergency medical services flight, a main rotor blade sustained substantial damage when it contacted the left vertical stabilizer. The main rotor blade was broken near its root, and the tailboom and tail rotor driveshaft cover were dented. The local recorded wind was 25 knots gusting to 34 knots. The damage was consistent with the main rotor blade flapping with the gusty wind conditions and impacting the stabilizer. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.
Factual narrative
During an engine shutdown procedure following an emergency medical services flight, a main rotor blade sustained substantial damage when it contacted the left vertical stabilizer. The main rotor blade broke near its root and the tailboom and tail rotor driveshaft cover were dented. The operator reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. Local recorded winds were 190 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 34 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N330SL
- Reported as
- Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 7216
- Airframe hours
- 12,990
- Engines
- Lycoming LTS-101-750B1, 317 horsepower, turbo shaftLycoming LTS-101-750, 317 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Air Methods Corp
- Registered owner
- Air Methods Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · November 11, 2011
- Departed
- Sparta, IL
- Destination
- 5IS1 · Carbondale, IL
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- 5IS1 · Memorial Hospital of Carbondal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 2, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 17,200 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 23 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 190° at 25 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,600 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.73 inHg
- Observed at
- MDH
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.