Mcdonnell Douglas MD900 accident near Heiligenblut, At, August 1, 2017
On August 1, 2017 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD900 (helicopter), registered OEXWF, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Heiligenblut. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
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
- August 1, 2017 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Heiligenblut, Austria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD900
- Registration
- OEXWF · no longer on the register · serial 900-0017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 1, 2017, at 1815 UTC, a McDonnell Douglas MD 900 Helicopter, Austrian registration OE-XWF, impacted mountainous terrain about 8 miles west-northwest of Heiligenblut, Austria. One medical crewmember sustained minor injuries. The pilot, the other medical crewmember, and passenger on board were not injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, emergency medical services flight that originated at Matrei-Osttirol Heliport, Austria.The helicopter had been dispatched to airlift a tourist with a medical emergency from a lodge near the summit of Mount Grossglockner, at 11,630 ft. MSL. During takeoff from the lodge location, the helicopter started an uncommanded yaw to the right. It subsequently struck the ground and rolled over coming to rest on its right side. This investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Austrian government. Any further information may be obtained from: Austrian Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority Trauzlgasse 1, A-1210 Vienna Austria Telephone: +43 171162/659209 E-mail: fus@bmvit.gv.at This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority of Austria.
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
- Dynamic rollover during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW206A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW206A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 2 | ||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.