# NTSB CEN24LA143: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, N910GX, Moran, KS, March 29, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 29, 2024, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Moran, KS - Coordinates: 37.85, -95.216667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8500&lon=-95.2167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194011 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194011/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194011 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA143 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with birds while in cruise flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The air ambulance pilot reported that he was enroute to his destination when two large birds impacted the helicopter, which resulted in substantial damage to the pitch change link assembly and drive link assembly. The helicopter began to “hop vertically” and controllability was in question, so the pilot made a precautionary landing without incident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N910GX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N910GX), registered now, S/N 54131, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-407) (registry code 1182154) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C47B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c47b) (registry code 54585, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 54131 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 5066.1 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C47B 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 135 - Operator: Med Trans Corp - Registered owner: Med Trans Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 23, 2024 - Departed: CNU, Chanute, KS - Destination: Pleasanton, KS - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CNU - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,524 total, 686 in this make and model, 3,746 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 19 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KCNU, 17 nm away - METAR: METAR KCNU 291852Z AUTO 20019G35KT 10SM CLR 22/09 A2976 RMK AO2 PK WND 22035/1845 SLP073 T02220094= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240329002669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240329002669A), Mar 29, 2024: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, Moran, KS, Minor damage. EMS helicopter had been dispatched and was enroute VFR to pick up a patient. Aircraft was 130 KIAS at about 2500 feet MSL. Pilot spotted 3 birds but had no… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194011. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16991744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA143%20-%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16990601&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA143%20-%20Photo%20Summary-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.