# Accident 20030316004139A: Bell 430, Hartland Twnshp, MI, March 16, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 2003, 20:15 local time
- Place: Hartland Twnshp, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Aerial Taxi From Ldg/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BAQA
- Location: 42.6333° N, 83.6250° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6333&lon=-83.6250&mi=10
- Aircraft: N431UM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N431UM-2013-12-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 430 (registry code 1182150, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 430
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 20,014 total, 2,114 in this make and model, 56 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030316004139A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS REPOSITIONING HELICOPTER DURING HOURS OF DARKNESS. HE SAW TWO HIGHWAY DELINEATORS, BUT FAILED TO SEE THE THIRD ONE, BECAUSE THE REFLECTOR WAS MISSING FROM THE THIRD POST. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE POST, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR AND THE GEARBOX.

## 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 CHI03LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA084), Mar 17, 2003: Bell 430 (N431UM), Highland, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance to the roadway sign. Contributing factors were the failure of the tail rotor gearbox, the roadway sign and the low lighting conditions (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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