# NTSB LAX87IA260: MBB BK117A-3, N160BK, Cupertino, CA, July 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1987, 02:20 local (09:20 UTC)
- Place: Cupertino, CA
- Coordinates: 37.300212, -122.089195 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3002&lon=-122.0892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87IA260
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25437/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87IA260

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, ground personnel (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - air/ground communications - inadequate, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

A MBB BK117A-3 HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH WIRES WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO AN ASPHALT ROAD IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. NIGHT VMC PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE WIRES AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE COLLISION UNTIL HE WAS INFORMED BY GROUND PERSONNEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD MADE 'NUMEROUS ORBITS' PRIOR TO BEGINNING HIS DESCENT FOR THE LANDING. THE PILOT ALSO INDICATED THAT HIS VISION WAS HAMPERED BY BLOWING DUST FROM THE HELICOPTER'S ROTORWASH AND THAT HE WAS BLINDED BY A SPOTLIGHT ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE. THE FLIGHT NURSE WHO WAS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT SEAT FACING AFT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CONDITIONS WERE DUSTY AND GROUND PERSONNEL HAD POINTED THE LIGHT IN THE PILOTS FACE. THE PILOT ALSO INDICATED COMMUNICATIONS WITH GROUND PERSONNEL WAS OFTEN GARBLED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N160BK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MBB BK117A-3
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 7060
- Airframe hours: 836
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101-650B1 592 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters, doing business as Life Flight [Ems]
- Registered owner: Mdfc Equipment Leasing Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, June 21, 1987, 36 hours before
- Departed: PALO ALTO, CA
- Destination: CUPERTINO, CA
- Airport: SJC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 10,940 total, 210 in this make and model, 9,730 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19870708061949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870708061949I), Jul 8, 1987: Bolkms BK117A3, Cupertino, CA, Minor damage. A life flight helicopter struck a powerline during landing at a car accident site in a remote area.

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.

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