Fatal NTSB investigations: Bell 407
30 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell 407. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.
Cases per year
| 1997 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Where
Open the mapLatest cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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"Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.
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" DESCRun it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB ERA27FA010Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldInvestigation openBell 407 · Myakka City, FLNTSB WPR26FA098Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportBell 407 · Flagstaff, AZOn 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 WPR23FA302Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Cabazon, CAThe 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 CEN23FA071Accident · 4 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Galliano, LAThe 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 CEN23FA019Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Morgan City, LAThe pilot’s loss of consciousness due to a cardiovascular event.NTSB CEN22FA100Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Houma, LAThe pilot’s sudden loss of consciousness for undetermined reasons during cruise flight, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.NTSB ERA20FA056Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Headland, ALPilot incapacitation by a sudden cardiac event related to severe coronary artery disease, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.NTSB CEN20FA035Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico)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 CEN19FA095Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Galliano, LAThe 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 CEN19FA072Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Zaleski, OHThe 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 ERA17FA274Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Charlottesville, VAThe 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 CEN17FA112Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Chauvin, LAThe 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 WPR16FA037Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · McFarland, CAThe 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 ERA13FA014Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Coolbaugh Township, PAThe 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 CEN13FA003Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Intracoastal City, LAThe 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 ERA12FA527Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Abingdon, VAThe 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 DEN08MA116Accident · 7 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Flagstaff, AZBoth 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 DEN08FA101Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Huntsville, TXThe 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 NYC07FA048Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Dagsboro, DEThe 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 DFW05FA040Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Ship Shoal 130EThe 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 SEA04MA167Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Battle Mountain, NVThe 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 CHI04MA182Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Newberry, SCThe 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 FTW04FA097Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Pyote, TXThe 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 FTW04FA029Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · High Island 573The loss of engine power due to the failure of the 3rd stage turbine wheel and subsequent catastrophic failure of the turbine assembly.NTSB FTW03FA118Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Broadus, TXThe 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 FTW03FA097Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Mi 700The 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 CHI01LA145Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell Helicopter 407 · Schoolcraft, MIThe pilot rated passenger failed to maintain clearance with the rotor blades as he exited the helicopter.NTSB FTW01FA043Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Gilchrist, TXThe loss of control for reasons undetermined.NTSB FTW99FA001Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Vermilion 331the 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 FTW98FA068Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Littleton, COThe 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…