Bell 407 N167RL

Summary

On 14 January 2022 at about 16:01 local time, a Bell 407 registered N167RL, operated by Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC, was involved in an accident near Houma, Louisiana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 January 2022 at 16:01

Classification

Accident

Location

Houma, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

29.4913, -90.4294

Aircraft

Bell 407

Registration

N167RL

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Venice → Patterson

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22FA100

2 people died.

The pilot’s sudden loss of consciousness for undetermined reasons during cruise flight, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger departed in the helicopter on the on-demand passenger flight. Cockpit imagery indicated that, while enroute, the pilot experienced a sudden loss of consciousness. The helicopter departed controlled flight and impacted terrain. Examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Autopsy of the pilot was limited due to extensive traumatic injury. While the pilot’s cardiovascular system showed no evidence of natural disease, an arrhythmia or other electrical disorder would not leave evidence on autopsy; thus, the cause of the pilot’s sudden incapacitation could not be determined. Varying levels of ethanol were detected in the pilot’s liver, lung, kidney, and muscle tissue. Butanol and propanol were also detected in some tissues. Given the differing ethanol tissue concentrations, the state the body was recovered, and the presence of butanol and propanol in some tissues, it is likely that the identified ethanol was from sources other than ingestion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.