Mbb BK-117A-1 accident near Aiken, South Carolina, September 9, 1985
On September 9, 1985 at about 4:04 pm local time, a Mbb BK-117A-1 (helicopter), registered N117SR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aiken, South Carolina. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 6 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- September 9, 1985 · about 4:04 pm local time
- Place
- Aiken, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 6 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BK-117A-1
- Registration
- N117SR · registry record · serial 7019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT WAS MANEUVERING HELICOPTER AT LOW ALT AND INTO RISING TERRAIN. ON 3RD RIGHT TURN RACETRACK PATTERN, WITNESSES OBSERVED ACFT DESCEND SLIGHTLY, ROLL INTO A 45 DEG OR GREATER BANK AND CONTACT TREES. THE ACFT STARTED A YAWING ROTATION TO THE RIGHT AND CONTACTED THE GROUND AT ABOUT A 35 DEG ANGLE OF DESCENT WHILE TRAVELING BACKWARD. ALL SEVEN OCCUPANTS SUCCESSFULLY EXITED THE ACFT THROUGH THE RIGHT DOORS. THIS WAS A SINGLE PLT OPERATION AND THE TASK LOAD AND MISSION PRESSURES WERE HIGH.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,855 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 2,456 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 27, 1985; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,283 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-650B1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wackenhut Services, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Aiken SC at 3:27 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:38 pm from AGS, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 5 |
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.