ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 270673
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| Date: | Tuesday 14 December 2021 |
| Time: | 12:36 |
| Type: |  Bell 407 |
| Owner/operator: | RC Smith Aviation |
| Registration: | N150AS |
| MSN: | 54658 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2016 |
| Engine model: | Rolls-Royce 250-C47B/8 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | LaPlace, LA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Gonzales, LA |
| New Orleans-Lakefront Airport, LA (NEW/KNEW) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On December 14, 2021, at 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 flight was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot was operating the helicopter in an area of low cloud ceilings, fog, and mist. Flight data showed that the helicopter’s altitude varied and that the maximum altitude reached was 175 ft above ground level. The last recorded altitude was 75 ft. The helicopter subsequently collided with a guy wire suspended between two transmission line trusses and impacted the highway below. A postimpact fire ensued and destroyed the helicopter.
Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. The pilot did not receive an official weather briefing before the flight. After the accident, a US Coast Guard pilot was deployed to the accident area. The Coast Guard pilot stated that a “wall of clouds” extended from the power lines westward to the accident area. Thus, the accident pilot likely could not see the power lines due to the reduced visibilities in mist and clouds at the accident time.
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.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.wafb.com/app/2021/12/14/helicopter-crash-closes-i-10-bonnet-carre-spillway/
https://www.nola.com/news/article_4c383bb0-5d3a-11ec-852f-1f310a3853e5.html
https://www.fox8live.com/2021/12/15/i-10-reopens-both-directions-bonnet-carre-spillway-bridge-after-helicopter-crash
https://www.wbrz.com/news/pilot-from-capital-area-killed-in-i-10-helicopter-crash-tuesday
https://www.nola.com/news/article_38e0f07a-5d2b-11ec-9f65-43e50a227874.html
https://www.wbrz.com/news/new-video-shows-helicopter-falling-apart-moments-before-deadly-crash-on-i-10/
NTSB
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a0ca40&lat=30.084&lon=-90.405&zoom=14.6&showTrace=2021-12-14&trackLabels
Location
Media:
NTSB is investigating the Dec. 14, 2021, crash of a Bell 407 helicopter near LaPlace, Louisiana.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) December 14, 2021
А helicopter crashed on I-10 in Louisiana on Tuesday afternoon. The crash happened around 12:35 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 14. The helicopter crashed on I-10 eastbound, at the Bonnet Carre Spillway Bridge, according to Louisiana State Police.#TheBachelorette #QueensABC #DubNation pic.twitter.com/xWuEzCsqoo
— Red Zone (@REDZONEFORALL) December 15, 2021
The helicopter crashed on I-10 Eastbound at the Bonnet Carre Spillway Bridge, according to Louisiana State Police. https://t.co/9jSqce4cQx
— 1011 NOW (@1011_News) December 14, 2021
The eastbound lanes of I-10 on the Bonne Carre Spillway Bridge will remain closed until 2 a.m. Wednesday as Entergy crews repair transmission lines damaged in a fatal helicopter accident, according to DOTD. https://t.co/7QtyGvOvI8
— NOLA.com (@NOLAnews) December 15, 2021
CW: Fatal Heli Crash (no gore)
— 🥀_Imposter_🕸️ (@Imposter_Edits) December 16, 2021
this happened yesterday. NEW ORLEANS
I-10 closure for powerline repairs after helicopter crash postponed pic.twitter.com/Z4W6IFGswK
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Dec-2021 19:28 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 14-Dec-2021 19:45 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Narrative] |
| 14-Dec-2021 20:11 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Narrative] |
| 14-Dec-2021 22:15 | Aerossurance | Updated [Total occupants, Narrative] |
| 14-Dec-2021 22:18 | Captain Adam | Updated [Total fatalities, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 15-Dec-2021 01:36 | johnwg | Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Nature, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category] |
| 15-Dec-2021 06:58 | Anon. | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Embed code] |
| 15-Dec-2021 06:58 | harro | Updated [Source] |
| 15-Dec-2021 11:56 | Aerossurance | Updated [Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 15-Dec-2021 12:01 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, Narrative, Category] |
| 15-Dec-2021 12:05 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 15-Dec-2021 12:07 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
| 15-Dec-2021 12:18 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 15-Dec-2021 12:51 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
| 16-Dec-2021 08:03 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
| 16-Dec-2021 08:04 | Aerossurance | Updated [Phase, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 17-Dec-2021 06:12 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source] |
| 05-Jan-2022 21:56 | Captain Adam | Updated [Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category] |
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