- Date
- April 9, 1989, 06:49 local (11:49 UTC)
- Place
- Houston, TX
- Injuries
- 3 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N120HHMBB BK-117A-4
- Weather
- Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890409006799A
- Case key
- 22766
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
Failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from the obstruction (garage). Factors related to the accident were: darkness, adverse weather conditions, personnel in the area of the temporary heliport, lack of security provided by hospital management, which resulted in a necessity for the plt to divert his attention, and the pilot's lack of visual ques.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was being operd fm a temporary lndg zone (lz) in a parking lot, while the hospital heliport was being resurfaced. As the plt was preparing to takeoff at ngt to get a patient at another lctn, he noted psnl in the area of the lz & adzd the dispatcher of the lack of security. At that time, the wx (10 mi east at Houston hobby arpt) was in part: 900' ovc, vis 8 mi with light drizzle, wind fm 040 deg at 14 KTS. The plt bgn a vertical takeoff to clr obstacles. He rprtd that after lift-off, the helicopter enctrd turbc & a venturi effect fm wind blowing around the buildings. Also,he indcd that his visual ques were reduced as he was was watching for people in the area of the lz. At about that time, witnesses observed the helicopter drift backward. Subsequently, the tail rotor contacted the top of a garage, then the helicopter bgn an unctld spin & crashed. The plt & both medical crew members were seriously injured.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N120HH
- Reported as
- MBB BK-117A-4
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 7132
- Airframe hours
- 529
- Engine
- Lycoming LTS 101-650B, 650 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- Hermann Trust, doing business as Hermann Life Flight
- Registered owner
- Bell Atlantic Tricon
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 29, 1989 · 46 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- NONE · Channelview, TX
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- Hermann Hospital
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
- 40
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 8,700 total · 1,590 in this make and model · 8,380 as pilot in command · 72 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Night/dark
- Wind
- 40° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 900 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HOU, 10 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.