Bell B407 accident near Morehead, Kentucky, December 21, 2003
On December 21, 2003 at about 2:50 am local time, a Bell B407 (helicopter), registered N508MT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morehead, Kentucky (None airport). It was an other work-use 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 ground personnel's failure to identify the hazardous condition. Factors were blowing snow and night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 2003 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Morehead, Kentucky · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell B407
- Registration
- N508MT · registry record · serial 53326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After two reconnaissance flights over the landing zone, the pilot initiated an approach. The pilot then performed a go-around due to blowing snow, and completed a third reconnaissance flight over the landing zone. During the second approach, the tail rotor struck a standing frost free hydrant. The hydrant was approximately 1 inch in diameter and 3 feet high. The helicopter subsequently spun right and the pilot performed a hovering autorotation to the ground. Ground personnel had marked the perimeter of the landing zone with lights. However, the ground personnel later stated that they had not walked the interior of the landing zone and were unaware of the obstacle.
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: 3,840 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,285 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 30, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 5,250 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C47B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Morehead KY
- Destination: NONE Morehead KY
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Observation at 2:53 am from JKL, 50 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.