# Accident 20151210023319A: Bell 407, Mcfarland, CA, December 10, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: December 10, 2015, 19:08 local time - Place: Mcfarland, CA - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: CUCA - Location: 35.6736° N, 119.0556° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6736&lon=-119.0556&mi=10 - Aircraft: N408FC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N408FC-2017-03-22) (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: 4 - Fatal injuries: 4 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 11,321 total, 48 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA037) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151210023319A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON DECEMBER 10, 2015, AT 1908 PDT, N408FC, AN EMS BELL 407 HELICOPTER, WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT WHEN THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED WITH TERRAIN IN THE VICINITY OF MCFARLAND, CA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM PORTERVILLE AIRPORT (KPTV) TO THE SAN JOAQUIN HOSPITAL LOCATED IN BAKERSFIELD, CA WITH A PATIENT ONBOARD. ALL OCCUPANTS ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WEATHER FORECAST REPORTED VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH 10 STATUE MILES VISIBILITY AND AN OVERCAST CLOUD LAYER OF 6000FT. METAR : KBFL 110254Z 28004KT 10SM OVC060 14/11 A2991 RMK AO2 RAE0158 SLP128 P0000 60000 T01440111 51010 WHEN SEARCH AND RESCUE WAS APPROACHING THE SEARCH AREA THEY HAD TO POSPONE THE SEARCH DUE TO LOW CLOUDS AND VISIBILITY. RADAR TRACKS AND COMPANY FLIGHT TRACKING SOFTWARE REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SUDDEN LEFT 180 DEGREE DESCENDING TURN, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO COLLIDE WITH THE HILLY TERRAIN. THE REASON WHY THE PILOT MADE THE TURN IS NOT CLEAR AT THIS TIME. INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE CONCURS WITH THE RADAR TRACK DATA. THE INITIAL IMPACT WITH TERRAIN WAS THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. THE AICRAFT DEBRIS PATH WAS APPROXIMATELY 465 FT LONG. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, ADDITIONALLY EXAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION REVEALED NO ABNORMALITIES. THE TRANSMISION CHIP DETECTORS EXHIBITED NO MAGNETIC DEBRIS. PLEASE NOTE THAT FURTHER ANALYSIS IS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE NTSB TO VERIFY THESE STATEMENTS. ## 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 WPR16FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA037), Dec 11, 2015: Bell 407 (N408FC), McFarland, CA, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control and collision with terrain while attempting a course reversal after inadvertently entering an area of reduced visibility weather conditions. Contributing to the accident… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.