Eurocopter Deutschland BK-117-B2 N117MK

Summary

On 22 September 2005 at about 18:00 local time, a Eurocopter Deutschland BK-117-B2 registered N117MK, operated by Omniflight Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Columbus, Ohio, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 September 2005 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Ohio State (OSU)

Coordinates

40.0797, -83.0728

Aircraft

Eurocopter Deutschland BK-117-B2

Registration

N117MK

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Omniflight Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Columbus → Columbus

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC05LA145

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor associated with this accident was a tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported he was returning to land from a local flight when he noticed another helicopter hovering on the ramp, and elected to alter his approach away from the other helicopter, with the intent of landing southwest of the ramp. He flew parallel to runways 27 left and right, leveled off at 50 feet, and began a right turn to approach the ramp from the west. The pilot added that he observed a kneeboard fall from the co-pilot's side of the helicopter, and land near the cyclic control boot. He tried to straighten the helicopter; however, the cyclic control felt "stiff," and could only be moved slightly to the left or aft. The helicopter continued to descend, and landed hard. A helicopter pilot, who witnessed the accident, stated that the helicopter's approach was fast, steep, and conducted with a tailwind. Examination of the helicopter, and its associated hydraulic control system, did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. In addition, attempts to restrict the cyclic control movement by positioning the kneeboard at various locations around the cyclic control could not be duplicated. A weather observation taken at the airport, about the time of the accident, reported winds from 190 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind sock was "limp."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.