Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 accident near Laplace, Louisiana, December 14, 2021
On December 14, 2021 at about 6:36 pm local time, a 2016 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, registered N150AS, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Laplace, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to fly in instrument conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 2021 · about 6:36 pm local time
- Place
- Laplace, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 NO SERIES, built 2016 · all 407s on the register
- Registration
- N150AS · no longer on the register · serial 54658
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low ceiling › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Clouds › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 2,049.6 hours in all; 156 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 7, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C47B/8 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Rc Smith Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Baton Rouge LA
- Destination: KNEW New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 400 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KAPS, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAPS 141835Z AUTO 04003KT 4SM BR BKN004 OVC010 19/19 A3031 RMK AO2 T01940191
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
15 documents, released by the NTSB on July 6, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Examination Notes | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | USCG Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Charts | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot Computerized Logbook | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | ADS-B Kmz File | map file · our copy | Download |
| 7 | ADS-B Data | data file · our copy | Download |
| 8 | Weather Factual Report | PDF, 19 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Weather Attachment 1 | GIF file · our copy | Download |
| 10 | Weather Attachment 2 | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 11 | Weather Attachment 3 | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 12 | Weather Attachment 4 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 13 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 14 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 15 | Wreckage Release | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.