Accident · 2024-08-02
What the record says
- Event date
- 2024-08-02
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- Minor injury
- Aircraft
- BELL 407 (N20BH)
- Operating rule
- PUBU
- Operator
- BRAINERD HELICOPTER SERVICE INC Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- Brainerd Helicopter Services
Probable cause
The pilot’s misdiagnosis of an erroneous engine instrument indication and his subsequent decision to enter an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing due to degraded visual cues and low ambient light conditions. Contributing to the accident were the erroneous engine indications likely caused by an undetermined electrical supply disruption; time pressure, pilot fatigue, and plan continuation bias as daylight diminished and the crew aimed to complete the flight; and cognitive overload from multiple airframe and engine caution indications.
Source: NTSB case WPR24LA265Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot pilot flying | Commercial | Helicopter | 54 | Class 2 (2024-01-09) | 3,855 total · 908 in this make/model · 3,572 as PIC · 69 last 90 days |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.