Bell Helicopter Textron 407 accident near Nuevo, CA
On March 24, 2023, a Bell Helicopter Textron 407 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Nuevo, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 24, 2023
- Place
- Nuevo, CA
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron 407 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.789°N, 117.095°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230324106951
Official records · ANC23FA031
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 24, 2023, at 1217 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N14Z, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Nuevo, California. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a family member, the helicopter was en route to Big Bear, California, as part of a weekend skiing trip. The pilot’s cell phone was enabled with a crash notification feature, which triggered an automatic call to a family member. The family member then notified first responders, who located the wreckage near the peak of a rocky hilltop at 1243. Review of ADS-B data revealed the helicopter departed French Valley Airport (F70), Murrieta/Temecula, California, at 1205 and flew in a northernly direction at an altitude of about 500 to 600 ft above the ground (agl). The last ADS-B reporting point was collocated with the accident site, about 18 miles north of F70. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe helicopter came to rest about 330 ft downslope on a rocky, hilly terrain, at an elevation of 2,560 ft above mean sea level. All of the helicopter and engine components were located within the main wreckage site. The debris field extended along the route of flight, starting at the top of a small hill and extending down the hillside. The beginning of the debris field consisted of very small fragments of fiberglass, consistent with main rotor blade material. These fragments were located on top of, and immediately adjacent to, a large rocky outcrop at the top of t
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to maneuver in a steep bank at a low altitude, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance with terrain.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
