Bell 407 accident near Dagsboro, DE
On December 14, 2006, a Bell 407 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Dagsboro, DE. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 14, 2006
- Place
- Dagsboro, DE
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.549°N, 75.214°W
- NTSB ID
- 20061222X01838
Official records · NYC07FA048
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 14, 2006, about 1815 eastern standard time, a Bell 407, N407JJ, operated by HeloAir Inc., was destroyed when it impacted terrain during takeoff from a private farm field near Dagsboro, Delaware. The certificated commercial pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) flight plan was filed for the flight, destined for Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Dulles, Virginia. The non-scheduled passenger flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. According to the operator, the pilot began her work day at 1115, and departed from the helicopter's base in Manassas, Virginia, at 1215. The pilot picked up the passenger at his private residence at 1230, and dropped him off at a golf club in Ocean View, Delaware, at 1330. She then proceeded to Sussex County Airport (GED), Georgetown, Delaware, and refueled the helicopter. The pilot departed Georgetown about 1650, and was scheduled to pick up the passenger at the golf club, about 1730, and return him to Washington Dulles Airport. Another pilot saw and spoke with the accident pilot while at the airport in Georgetown. The pilot observed the accident pilot as she used the weather computer in the pilot lounge to obtain weather information. He then discussed some of this information with the accident pilot including the weather radar, surface observations, and forecasts, as well as general weather patterns in the area. He described that the accident pilot
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to depart under visual flight rules into night instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the fog and the dark night conditions.
More accidents in DE
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Browse: Delaware · 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.
