Messerschmitt BK-117 B-2 accident near Houston, Texas, July 14, 2005
On July 14, 2005 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Messerschmitt BK-117 B-2 (helicopter), registered N440HH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the left passenger door due to worn attaching hardware.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2005 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Messerschmitt BK-117 B-2
- Registration
- N440HH · no longer on the register · serial 7238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on an extended downwind for an approach to runway 14L, the crew requested to open the left sliding passenger door. The 7,135-hour pilot approved the request and at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl), and while at 55 knots indicated airspeed, the left sliding passenger door exited the helicopter and made contact with all four main rotor blades. The pilot immediately descended to a three-foot agl hover and with no indication of control problems, proceeded approximately 1,800 feet to a helipad and landed. An examination of the sliding door and attaching hardware, by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed that the lower door guide rail had worn sufficiently enough to allow the door to exit the helicopter when the door handle was placed in the open position.
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: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,135 hours in all; 2,785 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,923.5 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 1, 2005; 15.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming LTS101-750B-1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTS101-750B-1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Fresno TX
- Destination: LVJ Pearland TX
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from LVJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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 N440HH 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.