# Accident 20120824018949A: Bell 407, Abingdon, VA, August 24, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 24, 2012, 22:30 local time
- Place: Abingdon, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.5944° N, 82.0183° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5944&lon=-82.0183&mi=10
- Aircraft: N407N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N407N-2013-11-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 series (registry code 03014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 26,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12FA527](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA527) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120824018949A

## Narrative

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

THE CORPORATE TURBINE POWERED BELL MODEL 407 HELICOPTER HAD JUST TRANSPORTED  6 PASSENGERS FROM THE BRISTOL, TN MOTOR SPEEDWAY TO THE HOME OF THE CEO OF THE CORPORATE OPERATOR. THE LANDING AREA (1774MSL) IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE SHORELINE OF SOUTH HOLSTON LAKE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA. THE LANDING AREA IS APPROXIMATELY 5 STATUE MILES SOUTHEASTOF THE VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS AIRPORT (VJI) ABINGDON, VIRGINIA. WEATHER AT THE VJI AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CLEAR, VISIBILITY 10 STATUE MILES, TEMP 62F DEWPOINT 57F. WIND 080 5 MPH.  A FIRST QUARTER MOON WAS ATTAINED AT 1354 UTC ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO THE DEPARTURE AREA WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SOPHISTICATED SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM. DIGITAL VIDEO INDICATED THE HELICOPER DEPARTED THE LANDING AREA SOUTHBOUND OVER THE LAKE AND TURNED SOUTHWEST TOWARDS BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY. JUST BEFORE LEAVING THE CAMERA'S FIELD OF VIEW YOU COULD SEE THE REFLECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S LIGHT'S AS WELL AS IT'S WAKE ON THE WATER. THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED THE WATER (1745 MSL) RESULTING IN AN APPROXIMATELY 150 YARD LONG UNDERWATER DEBRIS FIELD.

## 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 ERA12FA527](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA527), Aug 25, 2012: Bell 407 (N407N), Abingdon, VA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to make a low-level departure over water in dark night conditions without lights, which resulted in controlled flight into the water. Contributing to the accident was…

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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