Messerschmitt BK-117 B-2 N440HH

Summary

On 14 July 2005 at about 13:10 local time, a Messerschmitt BK-117 B-2 registered N440HH was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, United States. 3 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

14 July 2005 at 13:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.5211, -95.2422

Aircraft

Messerschmitt BK-117 B-2

Registration

N440HH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fresno → Pearland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW05CA181

Nobody was injured.

The separation of the left passenger door due to worn attaching hardware.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on an extended downwind for an approach to runway 14L, the crew requested to open the left sliding passenger door. The 7,135-hour pilot approved the request and at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl), and while at 55 knots indicated airspeed, the left sliding passenger door exited the helicopter and made contact with all four main rotor blades. The pilot immediately descended to a three-foot agl hover and with no indication of control problems, proceeded approximately 1,800 feet to a helipad and landed. An examination of the sliding door and attaching hardware, by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed that the lower door guide rail had worn sufficiently enough to allow the door to exit the helicopter when the door handle was placed in the open position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.