Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 accident near Moran, Kansas, March 29, 2024
On March 29, 2024 at about 5:20 pm local time, a 2013 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, registered N910GX, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Moran, Kansas. It was an other work-use flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with birds while in cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2024 · about 5:20 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Moran, Kansas · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, built 2013 · all 407s on the register
- Registration
- N910GX · registry record · serial 54131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The air ambulance pilot reported that he was enroute to his destination when two large birds impacted the helicopter, which resulted in substantial damage to the pitch change link assembly and drive link assembly. The helicopter began to “hop vertically” and controllability was in question, so the pilot made a precautionary landing without incident.
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
- Birdstrike during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,524 hours in all; 686 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,746 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 25, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,066.1 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 23, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 5,250 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C47B (turboshaft); 66,958 hours total
- Operator: Med Trans CORP
The flight
- Departed from: CNU Chanute KS at 5:12 pm
- Destination: Pleasanton KS
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 19 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from KCNU, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCNU 291852Z AUTO 20019G35KT 10SM CLR 22/09 A2976 RMK AO2 PK WND 22035/1845 SLP073 T02220094=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Remains of bird
Photograph 2 – Bent pitch change link
Photograph 3 – Bent swashplate drive linkThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 18, 2024. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N910GX on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Bell 407 984 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bell 3,080 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C47B 536 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Chanute Martin Johnson Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Kansas 1,147 since 1982 · 149 in the last ten years
- Kansas 5,740 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN24LA143.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.