Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 accident near Beattyville, Kentucky, February 7, 2017
On February 7, 2017 at about 10:20 am local time, a 2008 Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 (helicopter), registered N135LG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Beattyville, Kentucky. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while landing, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent roll over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2017 · about 10:20 am local time
- Place
- Beattyville, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 P2+, built 2008
- Registration
- N135LG · no longer on the register · serial 0731
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the airline transport pilot, he was dispatched on the emergency medical flight to an accident scene about 35 nautical miles from his base operations. The pilot checked the weather, completed the risk assessment form, and departed for the scene in the helicopter. He further stated that he climbed to 2,500 ft mean sea level and noted the winds to be from the southwest at 35 knots. He stated he was comfortable flying in these conditions and had flown in similar wind conditions several times before. The pilot stated that he was cautious of electrical wires that were next to the intended landing helipad. He came over the wires at 100 ft to clear them and then started to descend the helicopter at a rate of about 200 ft per minute. As the helicopter approached the ground, he increased the collective but was unable to slow the descent. The helicopter landed hard, bounced, and rolled onto its right side. The pilot stated that there were no known mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter before the accident. Thus, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain helicopter control while landing.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Dynamic rollover during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,952 hours in all; 1,089 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 9,908 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 29, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,665 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 23, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 6,415 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW206B (turboshaft); 5,099 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW206B (turboshaft); 3,122 hours total
- Operator: Air Methods CORP
The flight
- Departed from: IOB Mount Sterling KY
- Destination: St. Helens KY
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from JKL, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 7, 2019. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 4 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.