- Date
- December 20, 2003, 21:50 local (Dec 21, 2003, 02:50 UTC)
- Place
- Morehead, KY
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N508MTBell B407
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20031220032349A
- Case key
- 58513
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The ground personnel's failure to identify the hazardous condition. Factors were blowing snow and night conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After two reconnaissance flights over the landing zone, the pilot initiated an approach. The pilot then performed a go-around due to blowing snow, and completed a third reconnaissance flight over the landing zone. During the second approach, the tail rotor struck a standing frost free hydrant. The hydrant was approximately 1 inch in diameter and 3 feet high. The helicopter subsequently spun right and the pilot performed a hovering autorotation to the ground. Ground personnel had marked the perimeter of the landing zone with lights. However, the ground personnel later stated that they had not walked the interior of the landing zone and were unaware of the obstacle.
Factual narrative
On December 20, 2003, about 2150 eastern standard time, a Bell 407, N508MT, was substantially damaged while landing in a field near Morehead, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot and two crewmembers were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Saint Clair Hospital, Morehead, Kentucky. A company VFR flight plan was filed for the positioning flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that that he was dispatched to a medical evacuation approximately 8 miles east of the hospital. The helicopter arrived over the landing zone, and the pilot performed a "high recon" to locate obstacles and determine the best way to land. The pilot then completed a "low recon" to confirm obstacles, briefed the crewmembers, and initiated an approach. However, the pilot performed a go-around due to blowing snow.
The pilot made another "low recon" and re-briefed the crewmembers before initiating a second approach. During the second approach, the tail rotor struck a standing frost free hydrant. The hydrant was approximately 1 inch in diameter and 3 feet high. The helicopter subsequently spun right and the pilot performed a hovering autorotation to the ground.
The pilot further stated that ground personnel had marked the perimeter of the landing zone with lights. However, the ground personnel later stated that they had not walked the interior of the landing zone and were unaware of the obstacle.
Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to the tail rotor, tail rotor gearbox, and tail boom.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N508MT
- Reported as
- Bell B407
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 53326
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce 250-C47B, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Med-Trans Corporation OFC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NONE · Morehead, KY
- Destination
- NONE · Morehead, KY
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- NONE · None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- October 30, 2002
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,840 total · 75 in this make and model · 3,285 as pilot in command · 57 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Observed at
- JKL, 50 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.