Messerschmitt BO-105 accident near Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico, May 28, 2007
On May 28, 2007, a Messerschmitt BO-105 (helicopter), registered N911GB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico (Vieques Hospital Heliport airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's failure to secure the engine governor locking hardware, which resulted in the right engine losing power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2007
- Place
- Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico · Vieques Hospital Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Messerschmitt BO-105
- Registration
- N911GB · registry record · serial 694
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter's right engine lost power, so the pilot performed an autorotation to the ground. During the autorotation, the helicopter "landed hard," and the fuselage was substantially damaged. Examination of the helicopter's right engine revealed the trim actuator control rod was disconnected, and the locking nut and washer, which secured the governor, were loose. According to maintenance records provided by the operator, the right engine was installed on the helicopter two days prior to the accident, and the engine governors were rigged at the same time. The helicopter flew approximately 3 hours since the maintenance was performed.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,677 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,602 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,830 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 5,512 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Allison 250 C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Allison 250 C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviane Air Ambulance
The flight
- Departed from: Vieques PR
- Destination: San Juan PR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; a few clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.