Accident · 2017-09-08
What the record says
- Event date
- 2017-09-08
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- Fatal injury
- Aircraft
- EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH MBB BK 117 (N146DU)
- Operating rule
- Part 135
- Operator
- Air Methods Corp. Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- Air Methods Corporation
Probable cause
A failure of the rear bearing in the No. 2 engine, which (1) created multiple and likely unexpected and confusing cockpit indications, resulting in the pilot's improper diagnosis and subsequent erroneous shutdown of the No. 1 engine, and (2) the resulting degraded the performance of the No. 2 engine, until it ultimately lost power. The complete loss of engine power likely occurred at an altitude and/or airspeed that was too low for the pilot to execute a successful emergency autorotative landing.
Source: NTSB case ERA17MA316Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot pilot flying | Commercial | Helicopter | 51 | Class 2 (2016-10-06) | 4,562 total · 1,027 in this make/model |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.