MBB BK117 N145EC
25 December 2018 · Strum, Wisconsin, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 25 December 2018 at about 04:15 local time, a MBB BK117 registered N145EC, operated by Mayo Clinic, was involved in an accident near Strum, Wisconsin, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 04:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Strum, Wisconsin, United States
- Coordinates
- 44.5497, -91.3914
- Aircraft
- MBB BK117
- Registration
- N145EC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2008
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Mayo Clinic
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Eau Claire → Strum
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night
- NTSB number
- CEN19TA075
People
3 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the fire truck.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot and two crewmembers were on a night air medical flight. While on approach to the landing zone with several obstructions nearby, the pilot noticed a street sign and slowed the helicopter, which lowered the tailboom and tail rotor. The helicopter's tail rotor then struck a hose rack on a fire truck, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other MBB BK117 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Sep 2018 | MBB BK117 | Kyiv, Ukraine | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 2020 | MBB BK117 | Wooster, Ohio, United States | Metrohealth System | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Dec 2018 | Beechcraft 36 | Hartford, Wisconsin, United States | Hangar50 Llc | No injuries | - |
| 15 Dec 2018 | Brandt SONEX | Lodi, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Apr 2018 | Cessna 120 | Iola, Wisconsin, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 2018 | Dobbs George COOT | Malone, Wisconsin, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 2018 | De Havilland DH112 VENOM | Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States | World Heritage Air Museum | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Jun 2018 | Robinson R44 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States | MF Helicopters LLC | Fatal | 1 |