Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH MBB BK 117 C-2 accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 26, 2016
On April 26, 2016 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2009 Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH MBB BK 117 C-2 (helicopter), registered N145HN, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (West Penn Hospital Heliport airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the left vertical fin cowling during recent maintenance, which resulted in its separation and subsequent contact with the tail rotor system during flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2016 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · West Penn Hospital Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH MBB BK 117 C-2 C2, built 2009
- Registration
- N145HN · no longer on the register · serial 9302
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident flight, which was an on-demand air medical flight, was the second flight of the day following maintenance work that had been performed on the helicopter earlier that morning. The commercial pilot reported that the flight was uneventful but that, after landing, he noticed that the left vertical fin cowling had partially separated and contacted a tail rotor blade. Further examination of the helicopter revealed that the right vertical fin cowling remained secured but that 8 of the 11 fasteners on the left vertical fin cowling were unlocked, consistent with maintenance personnel not properly securing them following the maintenance work that was performed earlier that day.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,246 hours in all; 478 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 5,246 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 8, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,362 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 22, 2016; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 (turboshaft); 3,362 hours total
- Engine 2: Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 (turboshaft); 3,362 hours total
- Operator: Air Methods CORP
The flight
- Departed from: 22WV Grafton WV at 6:30 pm
- Destination: PN80 Pittsburgh PA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from AGC, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 3, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.