Bell 407 N184SF

Summary

On 19 November 2022 at about 22:00 local time, a Bell 407 registered N184SF, operated by Viking Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Searcy, Arkansas, 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

19 November 2022 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Searcy, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Unity Health Specialty Care (AR78)

Coordinates

35.2335, -91.7298

Aircraft

Bell 407

Registration

N184SF

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Viking Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Little Rock → Searcy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA053

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the electrical box while repositioning.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was repositioning the helicopter on the helipad to refuel. During the maneuver, the helicopter drifted aft and the tailrotor struck an electrical box. The helicopter lost tail rotor authority and landed hard on the skids. The tailrotor driveshaft, gearbox, and driveshaft sustained substantial damage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.