Mbb BK-117-B2 accident near Fresno, TX
On July 17, 1999, a Mbb BK-117-B2 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Fresno, TX. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 17, 1999
- Place
- Fresno, TX
- Aircraft
- Mbb BK-117-B2 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.531°N, 95.450°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X19258
Official records · FTW99FA192
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 17, 1999, at 1231 central daylight time, a Messerschmit-Bolkow-Blohm BK-117-B2 helicopter, N110HH, operating as LIFEFLIGHT 1, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following the separation of a main rotor blade during an approach to an unmanned fueling site near Fresno, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and two medical crewmembers were fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Hermann Memorial Hospital Systems, of Houston, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight, for which a company VFR flight plan was filed. According to Hermann Hospital dispatch records, LIFEFLIGHT 1 departed Hermann Memorial Hospital at 1226 and was destined for the Columbia Clearlake Regional Hospital, near Clear Lake, Texas, with an intermediate refueling stop at the Fresno fueling site. At 1227, LIFEFLIGHT 1 was issued a clearance from Houston Hobby air traffic control tower into Hobby Class B airspace. At 1231, LIFEFLIGHT 1 reported that the landing area was in sight. No further communication was received from the helicopter. According to a witness, who was driving westbound on FM2234, he first noticed the LIFEFLIGHT helicopter flying southbound approximately level with powerlines. He stated that the helicopter turned to the left and hovered for a second, and then he observed "sparks or possible flames shoot out from the top middle of the helicopter," near the main rotor system. He witnessed pieces of the main rotor system separate from the helicopter. Subsequently, th
Probable cause
the loss of control during approach due to the corrosion of the T-T strap which resulted in fatigue cracking and subsequent separation of the strap and main rotor blade from the helicopter.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
