University Hospital Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jacksonville, Florida 33209
Sunday, August 14, 2005 16:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter departed the University Hospital helipad en route to Middleburg, Florida. Approximately thirty seconds after takeoff, the pilot reported a loud noise, the helicopter shuddered, and the pilot reported that he lost power in the number one engine. The pilot attempted to gain forward airspeed to continue the flight on one engine, however after the helicopter cleared a set of power lines, the pilot decided to execute a precautionary landing into the backyard of a residential home. Upon touching down on a fence which was covered by hedges, the helicopter rolled onto the right side. Post-accident examination of the helicopter revealed the main rotor blades were broken outboard the pendulum weights, and the tail boom buckled on the lower surface aft of the attach fitting. The number one engine was functionally tested, and no discrepancies were noted during the engine run-up. Efforts to functionally test the number two engine were unsuccessful. However, the post examination of the power turbine kit revealed the elbow assembly was pierced allowing pressure control air to escape.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot in-flight decision to land in a unsuitable landing area during a precautionary landing. A factor was the loss of power on the number two engine.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/2005
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1620
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Jacksonville
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33209
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 302053N
Event Location Longitude 0814040W
Event Location Airport UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 97J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 25
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID JAX
Elevation of weather observation facility 30
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19105
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 25 2006 3:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N117US
NTSB Number ATL05FA144
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MBB
Aircraft Model BK 117 B-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7175
Certified Max Gross Weight 7055
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 7978
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CJ Systems Aviation Group
Aircraft Owner Street Address 57 Allegany County Airport
Aircraft Owner City West Mifflin
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15122
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 97J
Departure City Jacksonville
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1620
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 97J
Destination City Jacksonville
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2005 4:37PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight Yes
Medical Flight Medical Emergency