Mbb BO-105CBS accident near Bay City, Michigan, June 7, 1987
On June 7, 1987 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Mbb BO-105CBS (helicopter), registered N550H, was destroyed in an accident near Bay City, Michigan. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1987 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bay City, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO-105CBS
- Registration
- N550H · no longer on the register · serial S-586
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WAS INVOLVED IN EMS STATIC DEMONSTRATION AT BEAVER TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPT, NEAR BAY CITY. FOLLOWING DEMONSTRATION, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A STEEP DOWNWIND TURN AT LOW ALTITUDE. REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 250 DEGREES AT 18 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 23 KNOTS. ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT THE RIGHT SKID AND MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A SUGAR BEET FIELD DURING THE TURN, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND POST-CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT AND FLIGHT NURSE SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. THE PARAMEDIC RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. TEARDOWN AND EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINES FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ANOMALIES WHICH COULD BE CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT. PLT ASKED FLIGHT NURSE, IMMEDIATELY BEFORE TURN, 'ARE YOU READY...'
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: 2,454 hours in all; 1,037 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 1,930 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,674 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 1986; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Saginaw MI
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:59 pm from MBS, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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.
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.