# Accident 20121009025509A: Bell 407, Coolbaugh Twp, PA, October 9, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 9, 2012, 20:30 local time
- Place: Coolbaugh Twp, PA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1503° N, 75.4100° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1503&lon=-75.4100&mi=10
- Aircraft: N108MF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N108MF-2014-01-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C47B (registry code 54585, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c47b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C47B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 19,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA014) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121009025509A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 9, 2012, ABOUT 2030 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 407, N108MF, OPERATED BY ACS HELICOPTERS LLC., WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN IN COOLBAUGHTOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED, AND ONEPASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE CORPORATE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODEOF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLANWAS FILED FOR THE PLANNED FLIGHT TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY AIRPORT (HPN), WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK. THEFLIGHT DEPARTED ELMIRA/CORNING REGIONAL AIRPORT (ELM), ELMIRA, NEW YORK ABOUT 1845 LCL. THE PILOT DIVERTED FROM PLANNED DESTINATION TO POCONO MOUNTAINS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MPO), MOUNT POCONO, PENNSYLVANIA.THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED OVERDUE BY THE OWNER AT 2321 LCL ON OCTOBER 9, 2012. A SEARCH BY FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES WAS INITIATED. ON OCTOBER 10, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 0230 LCL. THE HELICOPTER WAS DISCOVERED IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILES NORTHWEST OF POCONO MOUNTAINS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MPO), MOUNT POCONO, PENNSYLVANIA.EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AND WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT AFTER STRIKING TREES, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE GROUND WAS SATURATED WITH FUEL, THERE WAS STILL FUEL ONBOARD THE HELICOPTER, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT FAILURES, OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE ROTOR SYSTEM, FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM, OR AIRCRAFTSTRUCTURE.THE RECORDED WEATHER AT MPO, AT 2039 LCL INCLUDED: WIND 120 DEGREES AT 5 KT, VISIBILITY 1/4SM, FOG, LIGHT RAIN, MIST, OVERCAST CEILING OF 200 FEET, TEMPERATURE 09 DEGREES C, DEW POINT 09DEGREES C, AND AN ALTIMETER SETTING OF 3011 INCHES OF MERCURY.

## 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 ERA13FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA014), Oct 10, 2012: Bell 407 (N108MF), Coolbaugh Township, PA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions due to self-imposed pressure to complete the trip, which resulted in impact with trees and…

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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