# NTSB LAX08WA302: Bell 407T, Talbot Bay, Australia, September 25, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: September 25, 2008
- Place: Talbot Bay, Australia
- Coordinates: -16.373056, 123.966667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-16.3731&lon=123.9667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 5 uninjured
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08WA302
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69221/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08WA302

## Probable cause

None

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md)

## Analysis

None

## Factual narrative

On September 25, 2008, at 0840 local time, a Bell 407T, Australia registry VH-NSH, ditched in Talbot Bay, Western Australia, following a loss of engine power while taking off from a marine vessel, the MV True North. The helicopter was being operated by True North No 2 Pty Ltd as a non-scheduled domestic commercial air transportation flight under the pertinent Australian civil aviation regulations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The pilot and 4 passengers were not injured and the remaining 2 passengers sustained minor injuries. The accident is under the jurisdiction of, and is being investigated by, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the ATSB at: ATSB enquiries: 1800 621 372 1800 020 616 Tel: (02) 6274 6141 Tel: (02) 6274 6440 Fax: (02) 6247 3117 Email: atsbinfo@atsb.gov.au Web: www.atsb.gov.au Canberra (Central Office) Street address: 62 Northbourne Avenue Canberra ACT 2601 Tel: (02) 6274 6141 Postal address: PO Box 967 Civic Square ACT 2608

## Aircraft

- Registration: VH-NSH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407T
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 53376
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Non-U.S., commercial
- Operator: True North No. 2 Pty Ltd
- Registered owner: True North No. 2 Pty Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Talbot Bay
- Destination: Talbot Bay
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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