3 fatal · BELL 407 · 2023-08-07 · Cabazon, CA, USA
Event
NTSB number
WPR23FA302
Event ID
20230807192807
Type
Accident
Date
2023-08-07
Location
Cabazon, CA, USA
Coordinates
33.9143, -116.8067
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
3
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
2
Total aboard
5
Aircraft
Make
BELL
Model
407
Registration
N555AS
FAR Part
PUBU
Engines
1
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The Skycrane flight crew’s decision to enter the Fire Traffic Area’s 7-nm NOCOM ring at an altitude significantly above their maximum cleared altitude, which resulted in their need for an aggressive descent into congested airspace and subsequent failure to see and avoid the Bell 407.