# Fatal NTSB investigations: Bell 407 NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB ERA27FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA27FA010.md): Bell 407 · Myakka City, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Investigation open · Oct 16, 2026 · N618TS - [NTSB WPR26FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA098.md): Bell 407 · Flagstaff, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Feb 5, 2026 · N56AZ · Destroyed > On February 4, 2026, at 2216 mountain standard time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N56AZ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona. The pilot and tactical flight officer (TFO) were fatally injured. The helicopter was… - [NTSB WPR23FA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA302.md): Bell 407 · Cabazon, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 7, 2023 · N555AS · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage > The Skycrane flight crew’s decision to enter the Fire Traffic Area’s 7-nm NOCOM ring at an altitude significantly above their maximum cleared altitude, which resulted in their need for an aggressive descent into congested airspace and subsequent failure to… - [NTSB CEN23FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA071.md): Bell 407 · Galliano, LA · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 29, 2022 · N595RL · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to ensure the helicopter was clear of obstacles before takeoff from the helideck, which resulted in the helicopter’s right landing skid pivoting about a helideck perimeter light during takeoff and a dynamic rollover. Additionally, the… - [NTSB CEN23FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA019.md): Bell 407 · Morgan City, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 26, 2022 · N34BM · Destroyed > The pilot’s loss of consciousness due to a cardiovascular event. - [NTSB CEN22FA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA100.md): Bell 407 · Houma, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 14, 2022 · N167RL · Destroyed > The pilot’s sudden loss of consciousness for undetermined reasons during cruise flight, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. - [NTSB ERA20FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20FA056.md): Bell 407 · Headland, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 25, 2019 · N663SF · Substantial damage > Pilot incapacitation by a sudden cardiac event related to severe coronary artery disease, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control. - [NTSB CEN20FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20FA035.md): Bell 407 · Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico) · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 7, 2019 · N79LP · Destroyed > A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine’s Nos. 3 and 4 bearings and the power turbine pinion gear, and subsequent loss of main rotor rpm, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with the water. - [NTSB CEN19FA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA095.md): Bell 407 · Galliano, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Mar 10, 2019 · N577AL · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of control during cruise flight as a result of spatial disorientation while operating the helicopter in close proximity to terrain in marginal meteorological conditions. - [NTSB CEN19FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA072.md): Bell 407 · Zaleski, OH · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 1 · Field · Final report · Jan 29, 2019 · N191SF · Destroyed > The NTSB determines that the probable cause of this accident was Survival Flight's inadequate management of safety, which normalized pilots' and operations control specialists' noncompliance with risk analysis procedures and resulted in the initiation of the… - [NTSB ERA17FA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA274.md): Bell 407 · Charlottesville, VA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 12, 2017 · N31VA · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of helicopter control after entry into vortex ring state, leading to a high rate of descent to the ground with a right spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent and recurrent training in vortex ring state recognition… - [NTSB CEN17FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA112.md): Bell 407 · Chauvin, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 27, 2017 · N1371 · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude resulting in a collision with water for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. - [NTSB WPR16FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA037.md): Bell 407 · McFarland, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 11, 2015 · N408FC · Destroyed > 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 was the pilot's lack of recent experience with night time… - [NTSB ERA13FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA014.md): Bell 407 · Coolbaugh Township, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 2012 · N108MF · Substantial damage > 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 terrain. - [NTSB CEN13FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA003.md): Bell 407 · Intracoastal City, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 2012 · N406AL · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to attempt a local flight in marginal visual meteorological conditions and his subsequent loss of control following an inadvertent encounter with instrument metrological conditions shortly after takeoff. - [NTSB ERA12FA527](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA527.md): Bell 407 · Abingdon, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 25, 2012 · N407N · Substantial damage > 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 the pilot's likely spatial disorientation due to a vestibular… - [NTSB DEN08MA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08MA116.md): Bell 407 · Flagstaff, AZ · Accident · 7 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jun 29, 2008 · N407GA · 2 aircraft · Destroyed > Both helicopter pilots’ failure to see and avoid the other helicopter on approach to the helipad. Contributing to the accident were the failure of N407GA’s pilot to follow flight arrival route guidelines, and the failure of N407MJ’s pilot to follow… - [NTSB DEN08FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08FA101.md): Bell 407 · Huntsville, TX · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 8, 2008 · N416PH · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent, which resulted in its impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the limited outside visual reference due to the dark night conditions. - [NTSB NYC07FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07FA048.md): Bell 407 · Dagsboro, DE · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 14, 2006 · N407JJ · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper decision to depart under visual flight rules into night instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the fog and the dark night conditions. - [NTSB DFW05FA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05FA040.md): Bell 407 · Ship Shoal 130E · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 17, 2004 · N976AA · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a stationary object while maneuvering for landing. Contributing factors were the inadequate facilities available for landing, the pilot's lack of information regarding the landing area, and the operational status… - [NTSB SEA04MA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04MA167.md): Bell 407 · Battle Mountain, NV · Accident · 5 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Aug 22, 2004 · N2YN · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot's improper decision to take the direct route over mountainous terrain, the dark night conditions, and the pressure to complete the mission induced by the… - [NTSB CHI04MA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04MA182.md): Bell 407 · Newberry, SC · Accident · 4 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jul 13, 2004 · N503MT · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance as a result of fog conditions. A contributing factor was inadequate weather and dispatch information relayed to the pilot. - [NTSB FTW04FA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA097.md): Bell 407 · Pyote, TX · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 21, 2004 · N502MT · Destroyed > The pilot's inadvertent encounter with adverse weather, which resulted in the pilot failing to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions, the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and planning, and the pressure to… - [NTSB FTW04FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA029.md): Bell 407 · High Island 573 · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 1, 2003 · N457PH · Destroyed > The loss of engine power due to the failure of the 3rd stage turbine wheel and subsequent catastrophic failure of the turbine assembly. - [NTSB FTW03FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA118.md): Bell 407 · Broadus, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 27, 2003 · N175PA · Destroyed > The partial loss of engine power due to erratic fuel flow metering to the engine resulting from the single point failure of the PLA potentiometer in the hydro-mechanical fuel control unit. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain to execute a… - [NTSB FTW03FA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA097.md): Bell 407 · Mi 700 · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 16, 2003 · N407HH · Destroyed > The catastrophic failure of the engine resulting from 1st stage turbine wheel blade failure due to type 1 hot corrosion (sulfidation). Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to brief the passengers on emergency safety equipment (life raft), the pilot's… - [NTSB CHI01LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA145.md): Bell Helicopter 407 · Schoolcraft, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 22, 2001 · N5259N · No damage > The pilot rated passenger failed to maintain clearance with the rotor blades as he exited the helicopter. - [NTSB FTW01FA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01FA043.md): Bell 407 · Gilchrist, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 29, 2000 · N407MM · Destroyed > The loss of control for reasons undetermined. - [NTSB FTW99FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99FA001.md): Bell 407 · Vermilion 331 · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 1998 · N403PH · 2 aircraft · Destroyed > the failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other's aircraft during cruise flight. Factors were the failure of both pilots to use a known safety advisory recommendation and the failure of both operators to implement the recommendation as a company… - [NTSB FTW98FA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA068.md): Bell 407 · Littleton, CO · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 15, 1997 · N771AL · Destroyed > The pilot's inability to maintain adequate visual lookout due to the lighting conditions and his failure to follow company procedures for departure from a landing zone. Factors were dark night conditions, bright lights in the landing zone which prevented… ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1182206')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?fatal=1&model=1182206 --- 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.