Eurocopter BK117-A3 N428MB

Summary

On 25 April 2000 at about 16:16 local time, a Eurocopter BK117-A3 registered N428MB, operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters, was involved in an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 April 2000 at 16:16

Classification

Accident

Location

St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.8505, -82.6304

Aircraft

Eurocopter BK117-A3

Registration

N428MB

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Rocky Mountain Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL00FA048

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance that resulted in the in-flight collision with a tower.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The medical service helicopter had completed a patient drop-off and was enroute to its' home base when it collided with a 649 foot radio tower. The operator stated that the flight was flying a newly established route in response to local noise complaints. Examination of the rotor system showed several indentations along the leading edges of two main rotor blades. There were also fresh mirroring indentations at the 480-foot level of the steel structure of the tower. No mechanical problems were discovered during the examination of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.