Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 accident near LaPlace, LA
On December 14, 2021, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near LaPlace, LA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 14, 2021
- Place
- LaPlace, LA
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.076°N, 90.403°W
- NTSB ID
- 20211214104406
Official records · CEN22FA073
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 14, 2021, about 1236 central standard time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N150AS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near LaPlace, Louisiana. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The helicopter departed from the Gonzales, Louisiana, area and was en route to New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW), New Orleans, Louisiana. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data tracked the helicopter’s flightpath as it flew toward NEW. The helicopter’s altitude varied between 75 and 175 ft above ground level (agl). About 0.88 miles from the accident site, the helicopter descended to 50 ft agl. The last ADS-B data point, at 1236:26, indicated that the helicopter was near the intersection of transmission lines over Interstate 10. At that time, the helicopter was traveling at a groundspeed of about 104 knots and an altitude of 75 ft agl. The helicopter subsequently collided with a western guy wire suspended between two transmission line trusses. The guy wire was estimated to be about 130 ft above a trestle bridge on the highway. Several commercial vehicle video cameras captured the helicopter’s descent and impact with the highway. A postimpact fire ensued and destroyed the helicopter. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONA review of the pilot’s logbook revealed that he had 12 hours of instrument flight experience, all of which were logged in fixed-wing aircraft. The pilot’s most recent instrument flight was on May 21, 2019. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONA review of meteorologic
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to fly in instrument conditions.
More accidents in LA
- Sikorsky S-76C, Jan 4, 2009
- Cessna 411A, May 8, 1986
- Piper PA 31T, Dec 28, 2019
- Beech E90, Jun 24, 2005
- Bell 206L-3, May 10, 1994
Browse: Louisiana
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
