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Casualties unknown

Medical Helicopter Collides with Radio Tower in New Route Incident (N428MB)

St. Petersburg, FL, US

On April 25, 2000, an Eurocopter BK117-A3 (registration N428MB) operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters was involved in an aviation accident near St. Petersburg, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance that resulted in the in-flight collision with a tower. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A medical service helicopter returning from a patient drop-off struck a 649-foot radio tower while flying a newly established route created to address noise complaints. No mechanical issues were found.

Incident Overview

A medical service helicopter collided with a 649-foot radio tower while en route to its home base after completing a patient drop-off. The operator reported that the flight was following a newly established route, which had been implemented in response to local noise complaints.

Damage Examination

Examination of the helicopter's rotor system revealed several indentations along the leading edges of two main rotor blades. Corresponding fresh mirroring indentations were observed at the 480-foot level of the steel tower structure. No mechanical problems were discovered during the inspection of the helicopter.

Aftermath

The collision caused damage to both the helicopter and the radio tower. The operator has not disclosed any further details regarding the status of the flight crew or the aircraft.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 25 Apr 2000 Eurocopter BK117-A3 accident near St. Petersburg, FL?

A medical service helicopter returning from a patient drop-off struck a 649-foot radio tower while flying a newly established route created to address noise complaints. No mechanical issues were found.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 25 Apr 2000 involved an Eurocopter BK117-A3, registration N428MB, operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters, at St. Petersburg, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance that resulted in the in-flight collision with a tower.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X20758. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.