# NTSB MIA95FA018: Bölkow BO-105S, N911LF, Perry, FL, November 4, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: November 4, 1994, 11:07 local (16:07 UTC) - Place: Perry, FL - Coordinates: 30.1706, -83.609802 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1706&lon=-83.6098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 21, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37633 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95FA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37633/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=37633 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95FA018 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FROM THE POWER LINE, WHILE BUZZING (AT LOW ALTITUDE). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - buzzing - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE SURVIVING PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER PILOT HAD STATED OVER THE INTERCOM THAT HE WAS GOING TO 'BREAK IN THE NEW PASSENGER WITH A REAL RIDE.' HE THEN DESCENDED TO LOW LEVEL, HIGH SPEED FLIGHT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE DISPATCHER CALLED. THE PILOT CLIMBED TO GIVE A POSITION REPORT, THEN DOVE BACK TO LOW LEVEL FLIGHT. SOON THEREAFTER, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A POWER LINE, WENT OUT OF CONTROL, AND CRASHED. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THEY ALSO SAW THE HELICOPTER AT LOW ALTITUDE AND HIGH SPEED BEFORE IT STRUCK THE POWER LINE. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 4, 1994, about 1107 eastern standard time, N911LF, a Bolkow BO-105S, operated by Omniflight, crashed in Perry, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed and the pilot and one passenger received fatal injuries, and one passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated from a hospital heliport in Tallahassee, Florida, about 1036 the same day. The survivor and several deer hunters in the area stated the helicopter was flying at a low level, with high speed, when it struck a 69 kilovolt power line, broke the line, flipped and crashed. There was an extensive postcrash fire. The surviving passenger stated that the purpose of the flight was to position the helicopter to another hospital to pick-up a patient. He stated that while in cruise flight the pilot descended rapidly and began to fly at treetop level. The pilot had stated to the other passenger "Now it's time to break Trent in with a real ride". Shortly thereafter, the helicopter dispatcher radioed the helicopter for a position report and the pilot climbed to about 900 feet and radioed the dispatcher with a position report. The pilot then dove the helicopter down to a low altitude and the survivor saw wires in front of the helicopter, and the helicopter struck the wires, then the helicopter lost control, and crashed. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Pilot information is located attached to and in this report. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Aircraft records and information is located in, and attached to this report. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The closest weather reporting station to the accident site was Tallahassee, Florida. The recorded observation at 1050 EST was sky, 15000 feet scattered clouds, visibility 7 miles, temperature 76 degrees F, dewpoint 62 degrees F, winds from 270 degrees magnetic at 7 knots, altimeter 30.22 in. Hg. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The wreckage debris was located along a logging road in Perry, Florida, aligned on a heading of about 120 degrees magnetic. The first evidence of impact was the fallen 69KV power lines on the south side of the road. From the power lines to the main wreckage was a distance of about 360 feet. The main wreckage was mainly burned away. Three of the main rotor blades were located and one main rotor blade was not located. The tailboom was located and both tail rotor blades exhibited cutting failures at about 50 percent of blade span. The failed power line had black paint transfer marks and the left forward skid cross tube had black paint scraped off of it and the right door step also had black paint scraped off. All flight control tubes were failed and exhibited signatures consistent with overload or burning. All rod ends for the control tubes were in place with the associated bolts, nuts, and cotter keys in place. The engines were removed and shipped for examination. Examination of the engines revealed compressor damage consistent with high speed rotation at impact, and the power turbine nozzles exhibited metalization transfer. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION A postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted by Dr. Jerry L. Harris of the District Two Medical Examiner's office Dr. Harris reported the cause of death to be massive trauma. Toxicological testing of the pilot was conducted by the Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was negative for alcohol, carbon monoxide, marijuana, and basic and acetic drugs. ADDITIONAL DATA The wreckage and engines were released to Mr. Barrett, representing the insurance carrier on November 7, 1994, and on January 10, 1995. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N911LF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911LF-1995-01-18), registration cancelled 1995-01-18, S/N S740 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bölkow BO-105S - Registry model: [Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105S](https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm-bo-105s) (registry code 5626006) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: S-740 - Airframe hours: 4699 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 200 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Omniflight - Registered owner: Deutsche Credit Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 26, 1994, 1 hours before - Departed: TALLAHASSEE, FL - Destination: FL - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 9,234 total, 1,123 in this make and model, 8,323 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: THL, 25 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19941104037469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941104037469A), Nov 4, 1994: Bolkms BO105S, Perry, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew low to show new cabin attendent a thrill ride. Struck powerline crashed and burned. ## Docket (22 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 1995, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=37633. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402123&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Supplement A (item 2, .PDF, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20A-Master.PDF - Supplement B (item 3, .PDF, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025832&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20B-Master.PDF - Supplement G (item 4, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025833&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20G-Master.PDF - Supplement K (item 5, .PDF, 331 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20K-Master.PDF - Supplement K (item 6, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20K-Master.PDF - Supplement S (item 7, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Factual Report of Physical Science Technician (item 8, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Factual%20Report%20of%20Physical%20Science%20Technician-Redacted.PDF - Airwork Corporation's Engine Disassembly Report (item 9, .PDF, 673 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025839&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airwork%20Corporation%27s%20Engine%20Disassembly%20Report-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 10, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402126&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams (item 11, .PDF, 401 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 12, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025842&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (item 13, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 14, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 15, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402134&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 16, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402137&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Photograph of Wires (item 17, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Photograph%20of%20Wires-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Main Wreckage (item 18, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Main%20Wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Note Scratched Paint Front Skid (item 19, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Note%20Scratched%20Paint%20Front%20Skid-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Note Paint Transfer on Downed Wire (item 20, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Note%20Paint%20Transfer%20on%20Downed%20Wire-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Note T/R Blade Cut (item 21, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20Note%20T%2FR%20Blade%20Cut-Master.PDF - Photo 6. Note Other T/R Blade Cut (item 22, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40025852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20Note%20Other%20T%2FR%20Blade%20Cut-Master.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.