Mbb BO-105 accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts, June 23, 1983
On June 23, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Mbb BO-105 (helicopter), registered N2908U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts (Nantucket airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nantucket, Massachusetts · Nantucket
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO-105
- Registration
- N2908U · registry record · serial S-586
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD LANDING DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF FOLLOWING A MEDICAL EVACUATION DEMONSTRATION AT NANTUCKET. AFTER THE PRESENTATION THE ACFT WAS CHANGED FROM A 2 LITTER CONFIGURATION. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE CYCLIC RETENTION CAP WAS ON THE CYCLIC STICK MOUNTING POINT BUT DID NOT KNOW WHO PUT IT THERE. THE RACK WAS THEN PUT IN PLACE AND HELD THERE BY ONE OF THE RETAINING CLIPS AND THE STRETCHER MOUNTED IN POSTION. CONTROLS WERE CHECKED FOR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND THE FLIGHT TOOK OFF. IN THE INITIAL CLIMB, CYCLIC WAS MOVED FORWARD WITH NO PROBLEM BUT LATER IN THE CLIMB THE NOSE CONTINUED UP AND FORWARD CYCLIC WAS ATTEMPTED BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OF THE POSITION IT WAS IN. THE PILOT LOWERED COLLECTIVE AND DESCENDED HITTING THE GROUND TAIL LOW. THE ACFT BOUNCED AND COLLECTIVE WAS HELD DOWN UNTIL THE ACFT TWISTED TO A STOP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY A CYCLIC STICK RETENTION KNOB, INADVERTENTLY INSTALLED, PREVENTED FORWARD CYCLIC MOVEMENT BECAUSE OF CONTACT WITH THE LEFT LITTER RACK.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,020 hours in all; 361 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 7,169 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 332 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1983; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACK Nantucket MA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: ACK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.