Bell B407 N508MT

Summary

On 21 December 2003 at about 02:50 local time, a Bell B407 registered N508MT was involved in an accident near Morehead, Kentucky, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 December 2003 at 02:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Morehead, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

None (NONE)

Coordinates

38.1967, -83.1667

Aircraft

Bell B407

Registration

N508MT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Morehead → Morehead

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

NYC04CA049

Nobody was injured.

The ground personnel's failure to identify the hazardous condition. Factors were blowing snow and night conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.