# Accident 20020907023209A: Bell 222U, Nipton, NV, September 7, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 7, 2002, 04:27 local time
- Place: Nipton, NV
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Location: 35.5375° N, 115.4169° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5375&lon=-115.4169&mi=10
- Aircraft: N417MA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N417MA-2003-02-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 222U (registry code 1182140, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222u) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming LTS-101 series (registry code 41560, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lts-101-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222U
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02FA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA276) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020907023209A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 9-7-2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 04:01 A.M., MERCY AIR AMBULANCE N417MA DEPARTED THE PAHRUMP, NEVADA HOSPITAL ENROUTE TO A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT LOCATED ON I-15 AT BAILEY ROAD, COORDINATES (35 28 03N, 115 31 42W). AT 04:14 A.M., N417MA FLIGHT CREW INFORMED AMBULANCE CREW #53 THAT THEY WERE 16 MINUTES OUT. AT 04:16 A.M., N417MA MADE A REQUIRED POSITION REPORT TO MERCY AIR DISPATCH PERSONNEL INFORMING THEM THAT OPERATIONS WERE NORMAL, AND THAT HIS POSITION AT THIS TIME WAS (35 53, 115 43). N417MA CONTINUED ON A SOUTHEASTERLY TRACK TOWARDS PRIMM, NEVADA (STATELINE CASINO'S). AT 04:26:50, A FEMALE FLIGHT CREW MEMBER CONTACTED THE AMBULANCE CREW AWAITING AT BAILEY ROAD AND INFORMED THEM THAT THEY DID NOT NEED ANY ADDITIONAL GPS COORDINATES AS THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF THE ACCIDENT LOCATION. AT 04:27 A.M., MERCY AIR DISPATCH MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT N417MA WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. ON 9-7-2002, WITNESSES STATED THAT BETWEEN 04:15 AND 04:30 A.M. THEY OBSERVED N417MA IMPACT THE GROUND, AND EXPLODE INTO FLAMES AT COORDINATES (35 32 25, 115 25 01). SEE BLOCK #43

## 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 LAX02FA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA276), Sep 7, 2002: Bell 222U (N417MA), Nipton, CA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The main rotor blade separation while maneuvering for unknown reasons. A factor was the dark night condition.

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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