# NTSB CEN20LA264: Mbb BK117, N263MH, Wooster, OH, July 4, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 4, 2020, 13:57 local (17:57 UTC) - Place: Wooster, OH - Coordinates: 40.873611, -81.883888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8736&lon=-81.8839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101540 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101540/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101540 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA264 ## Probable cause The entanglement of construction fencing into the main rotor system, which necessitated a forced landing that resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=5626002), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5626002), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis During departure from a portable dolly, the helicopter crew flew over an area where silt construction fencing was installed. While the helicopter flew about 10 ft above ground level and over the fence, the fence became unsecured and blew up and into the main rotor system. The crew then performed a forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and tail rotor blades. Although the crew was aware of the fence, they did not believe it would be a factor during the departure because they had previously flown over it with no issues. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2020, about 1357 eastern daylight time (EDT), an Airbus Helicopter BK117, N263MH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Wayne County Airport (KBJJ), Wooster, Ohio. The two commercial pilots sustained no injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 helicopter air ambulance flight. Surveillance video showed that after lifting off a portable dolly, the helicopter turned right and briefly hovered. As the helicopter began to take off following the hover, it traversed a grassy area adjacent to the ramp about 10 ft above ground level, where a silt construction fence was obscured by tall grass. As the helicopter overflew, the fence became unsecured and blew up and into the main and tail rotor system. The crew then performed a forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and tail rotor blades. At the time of the accident, there were no notices to air missions for the construction fence, and the presence of the fence was not contained within any publications or notices available to pilots. According to the pilots, the construction in the area of the fencing had started about 2 months prior to the accident and that coincided with the installation of the fence. One of the pilots stated that he had inspected the fence himself and remembered the bottom being buried in the ground about 4 to 6 inches and attached to wooden stakes with staples and nails. He said, regarding the silt fence, that he “never imagined it would come out at that altitude.” The second pilot stated that he had flown over it so many times, he did not take notice of it as a factor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N263MH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N263MH), registered now, S/N 9311, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mbb BK117 (C2) - Registry model: [Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-mbb-bk-117-c-2) (registry code 5626002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1E2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1e2) (registry code 60035, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 9311 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 4988.9 - Engines: Safran Arriel 1E2 739 horsepower turbo shaft; Safran Arriel 1E2 739 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Metrohealth System - Registered owner: Metrohealth System - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 23, 2020 - Destination: Oberlin, OH - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: BJJ, Wayne County - Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Video recording device, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,844 total, 1,827 in this make and model, 2,419 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,970 total, 750 in this make and model, 2,250 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KBJJ ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200704008009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200704008009A), Jul 4, 2020: Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh MBB-BK 117 C-2, Wooster, OH, Substantial damage. On departure from airport ramp, helicopter began departure climb over grass area next to new taxi way. The new taxi way was under construction and ground was… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101540. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11495046&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 635 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11545122&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 592 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11546373&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport manager record of conversation (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11544534&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Manager%20Roc-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11549101&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.