# NTSB Accident ERA24FA003
> **BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407** · 2023-10-08 · Croydon, NH, USA · FATL
## 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.

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*Source: [NTSB CAROL](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search?source=ntsb&type=event&ntsb_number=ERA24FA003) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*