Mbb BK 117 B-2 accident near Conroe, Texas, November 29, 2003
On November 29, 2003 at about 8:50 am local time, a Mbb BK 117 B-2 (helicopter), registered N440HH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Conroe, Texas (None airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while repositioning in a confined landing zone. Contributing factors were the dark night light conditions and the confined area available to the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 2003 · about 8:50 am local time
- Place
- Conroe, Texas · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb 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 maneuvering in dark night conditions in a confined landing zone, the air ambulance helicopter's tail rotor blades struck a tree. After impacting the tree, the pilot felt no vibration in the anti-torque pedals or airframe and landed safely. After landing, the pilot elected to not shut down the aircraft, inspected the tail rotor, and returned to the hospital. While at the hospital he inspected the tail rotor again, with the assistance of the company mechanic on duty, and they decided that the aircraft was airworthy. While performing a preflight inspection on the following day, another pilot discovered the damage on the tail rotor blades. The tail rotor blades were then removed and replaced.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,346 hours in all; 3,170 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 6,146 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 27, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,438.9 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 1, 2003; 5.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,385 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS101-750-B1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DWH Houston TX at 8:36 am
- Destination: Conroe TX
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from CXO, 5 miles away
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.