Bell 407 accident near Sedona, AZ

On October 13, 2008, a Bell 407 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Sedona, AZ. 1 person died.

Date

October 13, 2008

Place

Sedona, AZ

Aircraft

Bell 407 · Helicopter

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

—

Position

34.906°N, 111.874°W

NTSB ID

20081014X22933

Official records · WPR09TA012

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

NTSB summary

On October 13, 2008, at 1518 mountain standard time, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS) paramedic was killed after coming into contact with the main rotor blades of a Bell 407, N42AZ, near Sedona, Arizona. The helicopter was operated by the AZ DPS as a public-use search and rescue (SAR) flight and was performing a mountain rescue on Doe Mountain. The pilot and two hikers were not injured; the helicopter was not damaged. The flight had departed on the SAR mission from the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), Flagstaff, Arizona, at 1440, to aid in the search and rescue of two stranded hikers. According to DPS, the helicopter and flight crew were based in Flagstaff; the flight crew consisted of a pilot (right seat) and a paramedic (left seat). Prior to departing FLG, the flight crew had been notified of a SAR mission by the Sedona Fire Department. Sedona Fire Department requested assistance in locating missing hikers in the Doe Mountain area. The flight departed FLG and commenced the search. The flight crew contacted the fire department via radio that they had located the hikers on a mountain northwest of Sedona. The pilot and both hikers were interviewed by detectives from DPS. The pilot stated that he landed the helicopter on a rock face, with both skids on the ground, and the tail sticking out over the ledge. He reported that the lateral (left and right) of the helicopter was solid. As he lowered the collective and placed the weight of the helicopter onto the skids he felt the helicopter rocking slightly fore and aft, and decided to maintain the main rotor at 100 p

Probable cause

The paramedic's failure to monitor and maintain clearance from the rotating main rotor blades after exiting the helicopter.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.