Bell 222U accident near Nipton, California, September 7, 2002
On September 7, 2002 at about 11:30 am local time, a Bell 222U (helicopter), registered N417MA, was destroyed in an accident near Nipton, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The main rotor blade separation while maneuvering for unknown reasons. A factor was the dark night condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2002 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Nipton, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 222U · all 222Us on the register
- Registration
- N417MA · registry record · serial 47527
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At 0401, in dark night conditions, the helicopter departed its hospital base en route to an automobile accident. At 0414 the flight crew informed the ambulance crew at the accident site that they were 16 minutes out. At 0416 the flight crew made a radio call to company dispatch informing them that operations were normal. At 0420 the flight crew contacted the ambulance crew a second time and informed them that they were 3 minutes out. At 0427 company dispatch personnel made two attempts to contact the flight crew, both of which were unsuccessful. After passing over an interstate highway, the helicopter impacted terrain in a near 45 degree nose low attitude. Two witnesses observed the helicopter flying low and slow, one estimating between 150 to 200 feet, and shining its searchlight before hitting the ground. Another witness reported seeing a very strong light sweeping across the ground from side to side and traveling at a very low height, comparing it to a police helicopter hovering low when searching, and said the helicopter appeared to be trying to land. Examination of the accident site revealed evidence of a main rotor blade separation with a debris field consisting of main rotor blade skin, honeycomb, and paint chips located 938 feet upstream of the main impact crater. Post-accident examination of the helicopter's component parts, including the main rotor blades, failed to reveal the cause for the main rotor blade separation. Examination of the aircraft's engines revealed no pre-impact anomalies.
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: 3,588 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 113 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 17, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,432.3 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 5, 2002; 0.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,250 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming LTS-101-750C1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTS-101-750C1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Mercy Air Service Inc
The flight
- Departed from: Pahrump NV at 11:01 am
- Destination: Baker CA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,800 ft; scat at 7,300 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from LAS, 42 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.