Mbb BO-105 accident near Madison, South Dakota, August 9, 1992
On August 9, 1992 at about 6:26 pm local time, a Mbb BO-105 (helicopter), registered N30SV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, South Dakota. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND INADVERTENT DESCENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1992 · about 6:26 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO-105
- Registration
- N30SV · no longer on the register · serial 755
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE ENTERED A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN ABOUT 200-300' ABOVE LAKE MADISON. HE SUDDENLY REALIZED HE HAD LOST CONSIDERABLE ALTITUDE AND WAS IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK. HE SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL THE HELICOPTER AND GAIN ALTITUDE BUT STRUCK THE WATER. HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY PRE IMPACT MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE HELICOPTER. A POST CRASH INSPECTION DID NOT DISCOVER ANY PREEXISTING MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,835 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 21, 1992; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,291 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sioux Falls SD at 5:40 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,700 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:34 pm from BKX, 23 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.
Other NTSB records under N30SV the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.