Mbb BK 117 A-3 accident near Compton, IL
On December 11, 2012, a Mbb BK 117 A-3 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Compton, IL. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 11, 2012
- Place
- Compton, IL
- Aircraft
- Mbb BK 117 A-3 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.748°N, 89.096°W
- NTSB ID
- 20121210X32953
Official records · CEN13FA096
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Rocford Hospital communications transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 10, 2012, about 2016 central standard time (CST), a Messerschmitt Bolkow-Blohm model BK 117-A3 helicopter, N911BK, impacted the ground near Compton, Illinois. The pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic were fatally injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage from impact forces. The emergency medical services (EMS) equipped helicopter was registered to Rockford Memorial Hospital, and operated by Air Methods Corporation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand air-taxi flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a company visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Rockford Memorial Hospital Heliport (LL83), Rockford, Illinois, about 1958 and was en route to the Mendota Community Hospital Heliport (14IL), Mendota, Illinois, where it was to pick up a patient for transport back to the Rockford Memorial Hospital. The helicopter was based at the Rockford Memorial Hospital (LL83), Rockford, Illinois. The purpose of the accident leg of the flight was to position the helicopter for a subsequent air medical inter-facility patient transport flight from the Mendota Community Hospital to the Rockford Memorial Hospital. The request was received by the Rockford Memorial Hospital Dispatch Center and the pilot was notified at 1927. During the initial call requesting the flight, the pilot confirmed acceptance of the flight. At 1959, the pilot reported to the dispatch center that he was departing from the helicopter's base at the hospital. He
Probable cause
The inadvertent encounter with inclement weather, including snow, freezing rain, and reduced visibility conditions, which led to the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of aircraft control.
More accidents in IL
- Beech 1900C, Nov 19, 1996
- Beech C-45H, Sep 7, 1992
- Hawker Siddeley HS-748-2A, Oct 12, 1983
- Cessna 414A, Apr 7, 2015
- Cessna 172P, Jul 19, 1997
Browse: Illinois
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
