# NTSB MIA99LA129: Mbb BK 117 A-3, N163BK, Sarasota, FL, April 11, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 1999, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Sarasota, FL - Location: 27.4099° N, 82.5558° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from SARASOTA/BRADENTON INTL (SRQ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4099&lon=-82.5558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46121/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA129 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain a visual lookout while maneuvering in a hover resulting in the tail rotor colliding with a building. ## 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 - building(nonresidential) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While maneuvering for takeoff the tail rotor collided with a building resulting in damage to the helicopter and building. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 1999, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a MBB BK 117 A-3, N163BK, registered to and operated by Rocky Mountain Holdings, LLC, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 EMS positioning flight, collided with a building while hovering in preparation for takeoff at Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, Sarasota, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot and two medical personnel flightcrew members were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated they were on an EMS flight to Charlotte County Airport, Punta Gorda, Florida, to pick up a patient. He and the other flightcrew members boarded the helicopter and he lifted it into a hover facing south. He called the FAA Sarasota Control Tower for departure clearance and the controller asked him to hold for landing traffic. The controller then asked if he could see the landing traffic. He moved the helicopter to the east, looking for the traffic. He then heard and felt a "thud" followed a second later by three more "thuds". It appears the helicopter had drifted back and the tail rotor had contacted the hangar. He maneuvered the helicopter away from a culvert and landed next to his original parking spot. After exiting the helicopter, he noticed the tail rotor was damaged along with the landing gear. The hangar also had a 3-foot by 3-foot hole in it. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N163BK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N163BK-2015-12-07), registration cancelled 2015-12-07, S/N 7063 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mbb BK 117 A-3 - Registry model: [Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 A-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-bolkow-blohm-bk-117-a-4) (registry code 5626017) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming LTS-101 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lts-101-series) (registry code 41560, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7063 - Airframe hours: 4952 - Engines: Lycoming LTS-101-650B1 600 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Rocky Mountain Holdings LLC - Registered owner: Debis Financial Services, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, April 11, 1999, 0 hours before - Departed: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL - Destination: PGD, PUNTA GORDA, FL - Airport: SRQ, Sarasota/Bradenton ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 4,122 total, 120 in this make and model, 2,452 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SRQ, 1 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 19990411003549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990411003549A), Apr 11, 1999: Bolkms BK117A3, Sarasota-Brand, FL, Substantial damage. Rocky mountain air air ambulance (a bokow BK-117A-3 helicopter) tail rudder struck a building on take-off, and the acft crashed, no injuries were reported to… 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.