Kawasaki BK117 accident near Kinmen, Tw, July 10, 2009
On July 10, 2009 at about 4:20 am local time, a Kawasaki BK117 (helicopter), registered B77088, was involved in an accident near Kinmen. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2009 · about 4:20 am local time
- Place
- Kinmen, Taiwan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Kawasaki BK117 B1
- Registration
- B77088 · no longer on the register · serial 1082
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 10, 2009, about 0420 Taiwan standard time, a Kawasaki BK-117-B1 helicopter, Taiwanese registration B-77088, collided with ocean water about 1 mile south of the Kinmen Island Airport, Kinmen, Taiwan. The helicopter sustained substantial damage due to impact forces. The flight was conducted under the provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations of Taiwan. Of the three people on aboard, the pilot sustained serious injuries, and two passengers died at the scene. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Taiwan. This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only the information released by, or obtained from the Government of Taiwan. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aviation Safety Council of Taiwan Occurrence Safety Division 11th Floor, 200, Sec. 3, Beixin Rd., Xindian City, Taipei County 231, Taiwan, R.O.C. Phone: +886-983-401-983 Fax: +886-2-89127399
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell LTS-101 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sunrise Airlines
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.