Bell 412 accident near San Antonio, Texas, May 23, 2004
On May 23, 2004 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Bell 412 (helicopter), registered N555BA, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Antonio, Texas (Baptist Medical Center airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the parked helicopter while performing a hovering turn.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2004 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Baptist Medical Center · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 412 · all 412s on the register
- Registration
- N555BA · no longer on the register · serial 36015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to takeoff, the helicopter was parked facing the northwest. While in a hover and executing a right pedal turn to align into the wind, the helicopter's tail rotor struck a parked helicopter's main rotor blade. The airborne helicopter entered into right yaw, and the pilot reduced collective and throttles. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard onto the helipad. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported from 170 degrees at 14 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,640 hours in all; 877 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 3,600 as pilot in command; 1,900 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 13, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,663 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 21, 2004; 11,646 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,900 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3BE (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Methods Corp.
The flight
- Departed from: 09XS San Antonio TX at 9:05 pm
- Destination: BAZ New Braunfels TX
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from SAT, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.