4 fatal · EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH MBB BK 117 · 2017-09-08 · Hertford, NC, USA
Event
NTSB number
ERA17MA316
Event ID
20170908X24535
Type
Accident
Date
2017-09-08
Location
Hertford, NC, USA
Coordinates
36.290279, -76.487503
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
4
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
4
Aircraft
Make
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Model
MBB BK 117
Registration
N146DU
FAR Part
135
Engines
2
Damage
DEST
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
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.