Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH MBB BK 117 accident near Canton, Illinois, October 13, 2017
On October 13, 2017 at about 4:35 am local time, a 2010 Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH MBB BK 117 (helicopter), registered N140SF, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Canton, Illinois (Ingersoll airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's incorrect cyclic control during a hover, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2017 · about 4:35 am local time
- Place
- Canton, Illinois · Ingersoll · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH MBB BK 117 C-2, built 2010
- Registration
- N140SF · registry record · serial 9389
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter flight instructor reported that he was training a new company pilot at night, and they were using night vision goggles. He added that, while in a hover, he attempted to demonstrate the use of the controllable search light to the pilot in the right seat. The flight instructor added that, "to adjust the light, I took the [left] cyclic in my left hand which would normally be holding the left collective and attempted to reach the control switch for the light and grabbed the throttles of the right collective with my right hand. My right hand would normally be on the left cyclic." He further added that he then inadvertently pushed down on the collective, and the helicopter began to settle on the runway. He reported that in response "[his] reflex was to pull up with [his] left hand (which would normally be on the collective)," and when he did so the helicopter moved rearward. Subsequently, he "pushed the cyclic forward to correct" the rearward movement, but in doing so, the helicopter touched down hard, and the main rotor impacted the upper wire strike protection unit. The main rotor sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,933 hours in all; 1,130 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 5,845 as pilot in command; 406 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 11, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,888 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 3,650 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 15, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,156.9 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 2, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 7,887 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Turbomeca/ Safran ARRIEL 1E2 (turboshaft); 3,157 hours total
- Engine 2: Turbomeca/ Safran ARRIEL 1E2 (turboshaft); 3,157 hours total
- Operator: Osf Aviation LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: PIA Peoria IL at 4:55 am
- Destination: CTK Canton IL
- Runway 36, 3,899 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 am from KCTK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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 N140SF 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.