# Accident 20000605006559A: Bell 407, Lake Placid, FL, June 5, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 5, 2000, 00:30 local time
- Place: Lake Placid, FL
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.2893° N, 81.3607° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2893&lon=-81.3607&mi=10
- Aircraft: N234BH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N234BH-2000-10-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL00LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA058) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000605006559A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE HELICOPTER WAS MAKING AM APPROACH TO A LARGE PATURE IN A RURAL AREA ON A DARK, MOONLESS NIGHT; HAZE AND SMOKE IN THE VICINITY EXACERBATED THE CONDITIONS. A COMPANY PICK-UP TRUCK WAS POSTITONED AT THE FAR END OF THE PATURE WITH ITS HEADLIGHTS ON TO AID THE APPROACHING HELICOPTER.  THE HELICOPTER HAD ACTIVATED ITS LANDIGN LIGHTS, TAXI LIGHT, ANF AN AUXILLARY NIGHT SUN SPOTLIGHT.  THE BAROMETRIC ALTIMETER IN THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN SET TO THE ELEVATION OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT (AVON PARK, FL) WITHIN THE PREVIOUS HOUR, BUT THE HELICOPTER DID NOT HAVE RADAR ALTIMETER INSTALLED.  THE PILOT AND HIS OBSERVER HAD LANDED IN THIS PASTURE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST AND KNEW ITS ELEVATION TO BE 40 FEET MSL.  THE OBSERVER HOLDS AN ATP CERTIFICATE FOR MULTIENGINE AIRPLANES.  THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE DESCENT, THE OBSERVER WAS MAKING CALL-OUTS OF AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE TO HIM.. AT THE "40 KNOTS AND 600 FEET" CALL, THE OBSERVER SAID, "I HAVE GROUND CONTACT."  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FOCUSED ON THE TRUCK HEADLIGHTS.  THE OBSERVER CALLED, "500" [FEET].  THE OBSERVER CALLED "450," AND IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.  (PILOT'S FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT  THEY HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE AIR.) THE HELICOPTER STOPPED FAST AND ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.  THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL00LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA058), Jun 5, 2000: Bell 407 (N234BH), Lake Placid, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to establish/maintain a safe rate of descent during approach to landing. Contributing factors were the pilot's incorrect altimeter (Kollsman) setting, smoke, and dark night…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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