1 fatal · BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 · 2023-10-08 · Croydon, NH, USA
Event
NTSB number
ERA24FA003
Event ID
20231009193206
Type
Accident
Date
2023-10-08
Location
Croydon, NH, USA
Coordinates
43.450516, -72.132165
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
1
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
1
Aircraft
Make
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA
Model
407
Registration
N802JR
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
NDRK
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of control during the initial climb in dark night conditions due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a steep banking descent into trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent night flight experience, improper cockpit lighting settings, and his failure to use the helicopter’s stability augmentation system before and during the unusual attitude.