Mbb BO-105C accident near Rehobeth, Massachusetts, July 15, 1984
On July 15, 1984 at about 2:50 am local time, a Mbb BO-105C (helicopter), registered N105CP, was destroyed in an accident near Rehobeth, Massachusetts (Marthas Vineyard airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- July 15, 1984 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Rehobeth, Massachusetts · Marthas Vineyard
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO-105C
- Registration
- N105CP · registry record · serial S190
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE MESSERSCHMITT-BLOHM-BOELKOW BO-105C WAS ON AN AIR AMBULANCE FLT WITH A PLT, 2 ADDITIONAL CREWMEMBERS (DOCTOR & NURSE) & A PASSENGER (PATIENT) ON BOARD. DURING FLT, THE PLT RADIOED THAT HE HAD LOST POWER IN 1 ENG, THEN ABOUT 14 SEC LATER, HE RADIOED THAT THE OTHER ENG HAD ALSO LOST POWER. DURING A FORCED LANDING/AUTOROTATION TO A ROAD AT NIGHT, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES & CRASHED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT SUPPLY TANK & ONLY ABOUT 1 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT SUPPLY TANK. THE MAIN TANK HAD 15.4 GAL REMAINING, BUT THE RESPECTIVE FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCHES WERE FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. THE REAR MAIN FUEL TANK HAD ONLY SLIGHTLY OVER 1 GAL REMAINING. ALSO, AN ELECTRICAL WIRE IN THE LOW FUEL WARNING CIRCUIT WAS NOT CONNECTED. THE FUEL SUPPLY TO EACH ENG IS FROM THE FUEL SUPPLY TANKS, WHICH ARE INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,728 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,722 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 1984; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,070 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MVY Martha'S Vineyd MA at 6:22 am
- Destination: ORH Worcester MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from PVD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | 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.