MBB BK117A3 N911WJ

Summary

On 17 December 2003 at about 00:08 local time, a MBB BK117A3 registered N911WJ, operated by C J Systems Aviation Group, was involved in an accident near Okeechobee, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 December 2003 at 00:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Okeechobee, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.1472, -80.3306

Aircraft

MBB BK117A3

Registration

N911WJ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

C J Systems Aviation Group

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sebring → Stuart

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL04LA055

3 people had minor injuries.

The pilot continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and experienced spatial disorientation, loss of aircraft control, and in-flight collision with trees and terrain. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to follow company procedures, total lack of instrument flight time, and a dark night.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a night positioning flight and encountered instrument flight conditions. The pilot did not follow company procedures for instrument flight conditions, and lost control of the helicopter due to spatial disorientation. The helicopter entered a spiraling decent and collided with trees and ground. There were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. The pilot had logged 200 hours total time in the make and model helicopter, and no actual instrument time in any type of helicopter except for simulated instrument flight time. According to the company written procedures the pilot was required to follow the checklist which stated in part, "Fly the aircraft, climb to altitude, do not get in a hurry, and contact approach or center."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.