Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2 accident near Rochester, New York, May 14, 2022
On May 14, 2022 at about 1:00 am local time, a 1987 Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2 (helicopter), registered N370SS, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Rochester, New York (Strong Memorial Hospital Helip airport). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An unintentional movement of the cyclic control before takeoff, which resulted the main rotor blades contacting the fixed wire cutter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2022 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Rochester, New York · Strong Memorial Hospital Helip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BK 117 B-2, built 1987 · all BK 117 B-2s on the register
- Registration
- N370SS · no longer on the register · serial 7133
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the pilot of the air medical helicopter landed, the medical crew boarded and he prepared the helicopter for takeoff. The pilot stated that he was adjusting a light switch while his right hand was on the cyclic control when he heard a loud “bang.” He subsequently noticed that the rod from the airframe-mounted wire cutter was bouncing back and forth. The pilot then shut down the engines and the crew exited the helicopter. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed substantial damage to the main rotor blades that was consistent with them having contacted the wire cutter. The examinations otherwise did not reveal evidence of any anomalies of the flight control system that would have precluded normal operation. Based on this information, while the pilot indicated that he was holding the cyclic control at the time of the event, given the damage to the helicopter and the lack of anomalous findings with the flight control system, nor the existence other external influences like substantive wind, it is likely that he inadvertently moved the cyclic, which resulted in the main rotor briefly moving into a position where it contacted the wire cutter.
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 standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,358 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,278 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 18, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,702 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 2022; 641 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,387 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming LTS101-750B1 (turboshaft); 8,802 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTS101-750B1 (turboshaft); 8,297 hours total
The flight
- Runway H1, 48 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 78°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.74 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from ROC, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA22LA229.