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Location:
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Wooster, Ohio
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Accident Number:
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CEN20LA264
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Date & Time:
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July 4, 2020, 13:57 Local
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Registration:
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N263MH
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Aircraft:
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Mbb BK117
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Miscellaneous/other
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Injuries:
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4 None
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Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled - Air Medical (Medical emergency)
Analysis
During departure from a portable dolly, the helicopter crew flew over an area where silt construction fencing was installed. While the helicopter flew about 10 ft above ground level and over the fence, the fence became unsecured and blew up and into the main rotor system. The crew then performed a forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and tail rotor blades.
Although the crew was aware of the fence, they did not believe it would be a factor during the departure because they had previously flown over it with no issues.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The entanglement of construction fencing into the main rotor system, which necessitated a forced landing that resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter.
Findings
Environmental issues Fence/fence post - Effect on equipment
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Factual Information
On July 4, 2020, about 1357 eastern daylight time (EDT), an Airbus Helicopter BK117, N263MH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Wayne County Airport (KBJJ), Wooster, Ohio. The two commercial pilots sustained no injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 helicopter air ambulance flight.
Surveillance video showed that after lifting off a portable dolly, the helicopter turned right and briefly hovered. As the helicopter began to take off following the hover, it traversed a grassy area adjacent to the ramp about 10 ft above ground level, where a silt construction fence was obscured by tall grass. As the helicopter overflew, the fence became unsecured and blew up and into the main and tail rotor system. The crew then performed a forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and tail rotor blades.
At the time of the accident, there were no notices to air missions for the construction fence, and the presence of the fence was not contained within any publications or notices available to pilots.
According to the pilots, the construction in the area of the fencing had started about 2 months prior to the accident and that coincided with the installation of the fence. One of the pilots stated that he had inspected the fence himself and remembered the bottom being buried in the ground about 4 to 6 inches and attached to wooden stakes with staples and nails. He said, regarding the silt fence, that he “never imagined it would come out at that altitude.” The second pilot stated that he had flown over it so many times, he did not take notice of it as a factor.
History of Flight
Taxi-to runway Miscellaneous/other (Defining event)
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial
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Age:
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56,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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5-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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No
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Medical Certification:
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Class 1 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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October 8, 2019
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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March 25, 2020
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Flight Time:
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5844 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1827 hours (Total, this make and model), 2419 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 40 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial
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Age:
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41,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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5-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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November 22, 2019
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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March 7, 2020
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Flight Time:
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2970 hours (Total, all aircraft), 750 hours (Total, this make and model), 2250 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 13 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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Mbb
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Registration:
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N263MH
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Model/Series:
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BK117 C2
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2009
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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9311
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Landing Gear Type:
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None; Skid
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Seats:
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6
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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June 23, 2020 AAIP
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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7903 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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Engines:
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2 Turbo shaft
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Airframe Total Time:
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4988.9 Hrs as of last inspection
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Safran
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ELT:
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C126 installed, not activated
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Engine Model/Series:
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Arriel 1E2
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Registered Owner:
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Rated Power:
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739 Horsepower
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Operator:
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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On-demand air taxi (135)
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Operator Does Business As:
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Operator Designator Code:
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HDNA
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KBJJ,1147 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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0 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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12:56 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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7 knots /
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
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None / None
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Wind Direction:
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60°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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N/A / N/A
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.03 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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30°C / 18°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Wooster, OH
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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Company VFR
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Destination:
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Oberlin, OH
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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Type of Airspace:
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Class C
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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Wayne County BJJ
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Runway Surface Type:
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Airport Elevation:
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1135 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Dry
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Runway Used:
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
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VFR Approach/Landing:
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None
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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4 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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4 None
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Latitude, Longitude:
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40.873611,-81.883888(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Williams, David
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Arnold Wolfe; FAA; Cleveland, OH
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Original Publish Date:
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March 18, 2022 Investigation Class:
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3
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101540
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