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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2007 · cases in 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N911GB on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Messerschmitt 21 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Allison 250 C20B 113 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Allison 250 C20B 113 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Puerto Rico 282 since 1982 · 33 in the last ten years
- Puerto Rico 493 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC07LA149.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.