Bell 407 accident near Newberry, SC
On July 13, 2004, a Bell 407 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Newberry, SC. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 13, 2004
- Place
- Newberry, SC
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.417°N, 81.700°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040720X01007
Official records · CHI04MA182
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio/Telephone Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Information Regarding CD Containing Radio Transmissions: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 13, 2004, about 0532 eastern daylight time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N503MT, operated by Med-Trans Corporation (MTC) collided with trees shortly after takeoff from interstate highway 26 (I-26) near Newberry, South Carolina. The pilot, flight nurse, flight paramedic, and patient were killed, and the helicopter was destroyed by impact and postcrash fire. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 emergency medical services (EMS) flight was en route to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where it had departed about 0502. Night visual meteorological conditions with mist and light fog prevailed in the area of the accident site. A company flight plan had been filed, and flight-following was being provided by the Spartanburg County Communications 911 Department of the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Services. The accident pilot was notified of the EMS mission about 0452. After performing a weather check, he accepted the mission about 0455. The accident helicopter departed the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center helicopter pad about 7 minutes later en route to the accident site, which was located at the 64-mile marker rest stop on I-26. The accident pilot reported that three people were on board and that he had 2 hours of fuel. He estimated that they would arrive at the accident site in 18 to 20 minutes. The direct distance from the helicopter pad to the rest stop was about 42 miles. The helicopter cruise speed was about 130 knots. The accident pilot reported that they were on-scene about 0523. Emergency personnel at the accident site reported that
Probable cause
The 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.
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Browse: South Carolina · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
