Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2 accident near Carbondale, Illinois, November 13, 2011
On November 13, 2011 at about 10:05 am local time, a Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2 (helicopter), registered N330SL, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Carbondale, Illinois (Memorial Hospital Of Carbondal airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The main rotor blade’s contact with the vertical stabilizer during the engine shutdown in strong, gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2011 · about 10:05 am local time
- Place
- Carbondale, Illinois · Memorial Hospital Of Carbondal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2 · all BK 117 B-2s on the register
- Registration
- N330SL · registry record · serial 7216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an engine shutdown procedure following an emergency medical services flight, a main rotor blade sustained substantial damage when it contacted the left vertical stabilizer. The main rotor blade was broken near its root, and the tailboom and tail rotor driveshaft cover were dented. The local recorded wind was 25 knots gusting to 34 knots. The damage was consistent with the main rotor blade flapping with the gusty wind conditions and impacting the stabilizer. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with 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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor system › Main rotor blade system › Unintentional use/operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,200 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 2, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,990 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 11, 2011
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming LTS-101-750B1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTS-101-750 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Methods CORP
The flight
- Departed from: Sparta IL
- Destination: 5IS1 Carbondale IL
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 190° at 25 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 am from MDH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N330SL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN12CA078.