Mbb BK 117 A-3 accident near Sarasota, Florida, April 11, 1999
On April 11, 1999 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Mbb BK 117 A-3 (helicopter), registered N163BK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sarasota, Florida (Sarasota/Bradenton 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-in-command's failure to maintain a visual lookout while maneuvering in a hover resulting in the tail rotor colliding with a building.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1999 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sarasota, Florida · Sarasota/Bradenton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BK 117 A-3
- Registration
- N163BK · no longer on the register · serial 7063
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While maneuvering for takeoff the tail rotor collided with a building resulting in damage to the helicopter and building.
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: 4,122 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 2,452 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,952 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 11, 1999; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,055 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-650B1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Holdings LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SRQ Sarasota FL at 8:45 pm
- Destination: PGD Punta Gorda FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from SRQ, 1 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.