# Accident 20120414010679A: Bell 407, Aberdeen, SD, April 14, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 14, 2012, 02:50 local time
- Place: Aberdeen, SD
- Airport: Aberdeen Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: M3XA
- Location: 45.4667° N, 98.4764° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4667&lon=-98.4764&mi=10
- Aircraft: N509MT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N509MT-2012-07-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C47 series (registry code 03029, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c47-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C47
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,960 total, 22 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA242) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120414010679A

## Narrative

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

ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 4-14-2012, ABOUT 0200 CDT (0700Z) NEAR ABERDEEN, SD.  PILOT HAD JUST REFUELED AT THE ABERDEEN (ABR) AIRPORT AND WAS FERRYING THE AIRCRAFT TO ST. LUKE HOSPITAL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HAD AN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE.  PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD.  THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM, SEVERING IT.  THE PILOT WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES.  BOB KING, ABERDEEN AIRPORT MAINTENANCE FOREMAN WAS ON SITE.  IN TELECON WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, NTSB SPOKESPERSON ASKED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^TO TAKE PHOTOS AFTER DAYBREAK AND THE AIRCRAFT COULD BE REMOVED TO THE AIRPORT.  FAA NOTIFIED AT 0330 MDT ON 4-14-2012. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF FIRE DAMAGE NEAR THE ENGINE COWL.  THE ENGINE CASE WAS SPLIT AT THE TURBINE SECTION.  THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND SHIPPED TO THE RR MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN INDIANA.  THE ENGINE TEARDOWN  SHOWED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MULTIPLE ENGINE COMPONENTS.

## 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 CEN12LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA242), Apr 14, 2012: Bell 407 (N509MT), Aberdeen, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of two turbine engine blades due to vibration.

## Other reports on N509MT (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20100614006129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100614006129I), Jun 14, 2010: Bell 407 (N509MT), Fargo, ND, Minor damage. During cruise/low approach to hospital helipad approximately 4 miles out the pilot windshield failed losing 90% of the window. Investigation by company…

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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