# NTSB FTW00LA206: Mbb BK-117-A3, N312LS, Allen, TX, July 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2000, 01:40 local (06:40 UTC) - Place: Allen, TX - Coordinates: 33.100662, -96.660926 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1007&lon=-96.6609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49756 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49756/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA206 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while hovering the helicopter. A contributing factor was the dark night light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - in ground effect - object - tree(s) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The commercial helicopter pilot terminated the night approach to a 6 to 8-foot hover, with 'trees and 2 post-box's to the right and a large ditch to the left.' The pilot hovered the helicopter sideways to the left to move away from the trees. He then started a left pedal turn to face EMS units located behind the helicopter. He had turned the helicopter approximately 120 degrees, 'when I moved backwards' and struck the trees with the tail rotor. He immediately stopped the turn and moved the helicopter forward before losing tail rotor control. As the helicopter began to spin, he 'lowered the collective and landed hard.' The tail rotor drive shaft forward of the 45 degree gearbox was sheared. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2000, at 0140 central daylight time, a MBB BK-117-A3 helicopter, N312LS, was substantially damaged when the tail rotor contacted trees while hovering in-ground effect near Allen, Texas. The helicopter was registered to the General Electric Capital Corporation of Dallas, Texas, and operated by Omniflight Helicopters, Inc., of Addison, Texas. The commercial pilot and the two medical crewmembers were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The air ambulance flight originated from the Garland/DFW Heloplex Heliport, Garland, Texas, at 0130. The pilot reported that he terminated the night approach to a 6 to 8-foot hover, with "trees and 2 post-box's to the right and a large ditch to the left." He hovered the helicopter sideways to the left to move away from the trees. He then started a left pedal turn to face EMS units located behind the helicopter. He had turned the helicopter approximately 120 degrees, "when I moved backwards" and struck the trees with the tail rotor. He immediately stopped the turn and moved the helicopter forward before losing tail rotor control. As the helicopter began to spin, he "lowered the collective and landed hard." The FAA inspector, who examined the helicopter, reported that the tail rotor drive shaft forward of the 45 degree gearbox was sheared. Both tail rotor blades sustained damage, and the aft cross tube for the landing skids was spread. ## Aircraft - Registration: N312LS (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Mbb BK-117-A3 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7061 - Airframe hours: 6508 - Engines: Lycoming LTS101-650-1 550 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Omniflight Helicopters, Inc. - Registered owner: Ge Capital - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 5, 2000, 20 hours before - Departed: T57, GARLAND, TX - Destination: NONE - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,720 total, 220 in this make and model, 3,540 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 20000716007239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000716007239A), Jul 16, 2000: Bolkms BK117A3, Allen, TX, No damage. (-23) The pilot, daniel arthur lester reported that he approached the landing site from the south, amde a 360 degree reconnaissance and approached to land into… 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.