Eurocopter BK117-A3 accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, April 25, 2000
On April 25, 2000 at about 4:16 pm local time, a Eurocopter BK117-A3 (helicopter), registered N428MB, was destroyed in an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance that resulted in the in-flight collision with a tower.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2000 · about 4:16 pm local time
- Place
- St. Petersburg, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter BK117-A3
- Registration
- N428MB · registry record · serial 7088
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,367 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,642 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 15, 2000; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,555 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell/Lyc LTS101-650-B1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PIE, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.