# NTSB ERA10IA459: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, N516MT, Marion, VA, August 31, 2010

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 2010, 20:20 local (Aug 31, 2010, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Marion, VA
- Coordinates: 36.852222, -81.514442 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8522&lon=-81.5144&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10IA459
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77155/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10IA459

## Probable cause

The cardiac impairment of the pilot during a positioning flight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Impairment/incapacitation: cardiovascular](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a positioning flight shortly after takeoff, the pilot began to have chest pains and he informed the on-board medical crew that he would be returning to the departure heliport. He landed uneventfully at the heliport and was then airlifted by a company helicopter to a hospital in Tennessee for medical treatment.

## Factual narrative

On August 30, 2010, about 2020 eastern daylight time, a Bell 407, N516MT, registered to and operated by Med-Trans Corporation, was landed uneventfully after the pilot experienced physical discomfort during a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight from Smythe County Community Hospital Heliport (VG41), Marion, Virginia, to Wythe County Community Hospital Heliport (22VA), Wytheville, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and company flight following was activated. The helicopter was not damaged and there were no injuries to the commercial certificated pilot, nurse, or paramedic. The flight originated from VG41 about 2014.The director of operations stated that shortly after takeoff, the pilot began to have chest pains and he informed the on-board medical crew that he would be returning to the departure heliport. He landed uneventfully at the heliport and was then airlifted by a company helicopter to a hospital in Tennessee for medical treatment.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N516MT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N516MT), registered now, S/N 53762, built 2007 (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: 53762
- Airframe hours: 1379
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C47B 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Med-Trans Corp
- Registered owner: Med-Trans Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 29, 2010
- Departed: VG41, Marion, VA
- Destination: 22VA, Wytheville, VA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: VG41, Smyth County Community Hospita

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 12,975 total, 12,160 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observed at: MKJ

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.

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