20010522010809A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Bell 407 · Schoolcraft, MI · May 22, 2001

Date: May 22, 2001 · 17:00 local
Place: Schoolcraft, MI
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N5259N
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI01LA145
Reported as: Bell 407

N5259NRegistered now · Bell 407S/N 53192 · Built 1997 Airframe modelBell 407 Engine modelAllison 250-C47 seriesTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.19)On may 22, 2001, at 1700 eastern daylight time, a Bell 407, N5259N, was involved in a ground accident after landing on private property in Schoolcraft, Michigan. A passenger who had been seated in the rear of the helicopter was fatally injured when he was struck by the main rotor blade upon exiting the helicopter. The private pilot at the controls was not injured nor was the helicopter damaged. The 14 CFR part 91 business flight was preparing to depart for scotts, Michigan, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed. (-23)aircraft landed at private residence to let 2 passengers off. While pilot at controls and engine running, passenger exited helicopter to right side and was struck in the head with main rotor blade. Passenger was helicopter rated private pilot who was co-owner of company this helicopter is registered to. Passenger deceased at scene.

As the FAA filed it

(.19)ON MAY 22, 2001, AT 1700 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 407, N5259N, WAS INVOLVED IN A GROUND ACCIDENT AFTER LANDING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IN SCHOOLCRAFT, MICHIGAN. A PASSENGER WHO HAD BEEN SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE HELICOPTER WAS FATALLY INJURED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE UPON EXITING THE HELICOPTER. THE PRIVATE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS WAS NOT INJURED NOR WAS THE HELICOPTER DAMAGED. THE 14 CFR PART 91 BUSINESS FLIGHT WAS PREPARING TO DEPART FOR SCOTTS, MICHIGAN, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. (-23)AIRCRAFT LANDED AT PRIVATE RESIDENCE TO LET 2 PASSENGERS OFF. WHILE PILOT AT CONTROLS AND ENGINE RUNNING, PASSENGER EXITED HELICOPTER TO RIGHT SIDE AND WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD WITH MAIN ROTOR BLADE. PASSENGER WAS HELICOPTER RATED PRIVATE PILOT WHO WAS CO-OWNER OF COMPANY THIS HELICOPTER IS REGISTERED TO. PASSENGER DECEASED AT SCENE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI01LA145Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSchoolcraft, MIThe pilot rated passenger failed to maintain clearance with the rotor blades as he exited the helicopter.May 22, 2001 · No damage