Mbb BO105CBS accident near Kenansville, Florida, September 10, 1999
On September 10, 1999 at about 7:14 am local time, a Mbb BO105CBS (helicopter), registered N911HR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenansville, Florida. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to recognize entry into settling with power during approach to land and his failure to take remedial action to escape from settling with power resulting in the helicopter descending and colliding with trees and swampy terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1999 · about 7:14 am local time
- Place
- Kenansville, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO105CBS
- Registration
- N911HR · no longer on the register · serial S-646
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While approaching a landing area to pick up a patient the pilot stated that as he passed through 300 feet, the helicopter began to descend rapidly. He applied collective control and engine power, but the helicopter continued to descend. The helicopter collided with trees and then rolled onto the right side, coming to rest in a swampy area. He did not observe any anomalies or warning lights. Post crash examination of the helicopter structure, flight controls, engines, driveshafts, and transmissions showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,664 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 3,856 as pilot in command; 930 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,883 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 4, 1999; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,512 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Melbourne FL at 6:43 am
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 am from MLB, 25 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.
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.