Aviation Crash Map

MBB BK-117 N135CP

12 July 1988 · Manhattan, New York, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 12 July 1988 at about 16:10 local time, a MBB BK-117 registered N135CP, operated by Colgate Palmolive, was involved in an incident near Manhattan, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 16:10
Classification
Incident
Location
Manhattan, New York, United States
Coordinates
Not recorded
Aircraft
MBB BK-117
Registration
N135CP
Category
Helicopter
Engines
2
Operator
Colgate Palmolive
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Unknown → Teterboro
Aircraft damage
Minor
Weather
Unk
Light
Day
NTSB number
NYC88IA186

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF A STATIC DOWNWARD BENDING OVERSTRESS, CAUSED BY ANOTHER HELICOPTER HOVERING OVER OR VERY CLOSE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE AS IT WAS IN A STATIC/STOPPED POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AS THE PLT OF AN S-76 HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING TO PARK NEXT TO A PARKED MBB BK 117 HELICOPTER, N135CP, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF N135CP BEGAN FLAPPING. SUBSEQUENTLY, ONE BLADE FAILED FROM DOWNWARD OVERLOAD, ABOUT 29 INCHES FROM THE MAIN RETAINING PIN CENTER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other MBB BK-117 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
27 Mar 1989 MBB BK-117-A-3
N39187
Coinjock, North Carolina, United States - Fatal 2
14 Feb 1989 MBB BK-117 A-1
N7025L
Tyler, Texas, United States U. S. Jet Fatal 3
27 Jan 1991 MBB BK 117 B-1
N891GM
Sonestown, Pennsylvania, United States
no coordinates
Keystone Helicopter Corporatio Fatal 4
21 Jun 1992 MBB BK-117
N117HH
Middletown, Connecticut, United States
no coordinates
Rocky Mountain Helicopters Fatal 1
25 May 1993 MBB BK 117 A-4
N401PH
Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
no coordinates
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. No injuries -
30 Apr 1997 MBB BK-117-A1
N122LF
Kane, Pennsylvania, United States Keystone Helicopters No injuries -

All 17 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
21 May 1988 Cessna 150
N6078T
Poland, New York, United States James King No injuries -
14 Jun 1988 Lake LA-4-200
N6110V
Wantagh, New York, United States - Serious injuries -
18 Jun 1988 Robinson R22HP
N622SC
Copake Falls, New York, United States Aviation Training Academy No injuries -
18 Jul 1988 Cessna 150
N704HT
Massena, New York, United States - No injuries -
1 Jul 1988 Piper PA-32-300
N1954H
Akron, New York, United States REX Miller Flying Service No injuries -
1 Jul 1988 Piper PA-23-250
N62771
East Hampton, New York, United States - Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States