Eurocopter BK 117 B-1 N220HH

Summary

On 13 February 1999 at about 22:45 local time, a Eurocopter BK 117 B-1 registered N220HH, operated by Hermann Hospital Life Flight, was involved in an accident near Hockley, Texas, 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

13 February 1999 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hockley, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.0409, -95.8105

Aircraft

Eurocopter BK 117 B-1

Registration

N220HH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Hermann Hospital Life Flight

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Houston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99LA080

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines. A factor was the sunglare reducing the pilot's visibility.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter impacted power lines while departing from an automobile accident scene. The helicopter was part of a two aircraft team dispatched to the scene of the automobile accident. During the landing approach, the pilot noticed the power lines running parallel to the road; however, he did not consider them to be an unusual hazard at the time. After the passengers were loaded into the helicopter, the pilot took off, drifted toward the wires, and impacted the power lines. The pilot then landed the helicopter in an adjacent field. The pilot stated that at the time the helicopter impacted the wires 'the sun was shining directly into the aircraft' and that 'trash was blowing around.' Another helicopter was dispatched to the scene of the accident to transport the patients to the hospital.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.