Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 N150AS

Summary

On 14 December 2021 at about 18:36 local time, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 registered N150AS, operated by RC Smith Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near LaPlace, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 December 2021 at 18:36

Classification

Accident

Location

LaPlace, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

30.0761, -90.4025

Aircraft

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407

Registration

N150AS

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

RC Smith Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Baton Rouge → New Orleans

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22FA073

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to fly in instrument conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was operating the helicopter in an area of low cloud ceilings, fog, and mist. Flight data showed that the helicopter’s altitude varied and that the maximum altitude reached was 175 ft above ground level. The last recorded altitude was 75 ft. The helicopter subsequently collided with a guy wire suspended between two transmission line trusses and impacted the highway below. A postimpact fire ensued and destroyed the helicopter. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. The pilot did not receive an official weather briefing before the flight. After the accident, a US Coast Guard pilot was deployed to the accident area. The Coast Guard pilot stated that a “wall of clouds” extended from the power lines westward to the accident area. Thus, the accident pilot likely could not see the power lines due to the reduced visibilities in mist and clouds at the accident time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.