Bell 407 - NO SERIES accident near Zhejiang Province, P.R. China, Cn, July 9, 2015
On July 9, 2015 at about 2:25 am local time, a Bell 407 - NO SERIES (helicopter), registered B7723, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Zhejiang Province, P.R. China. 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2015 · about 2:25 am local time
- Place
- Zhejiang Province, P.R. China, China
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 - NO SERIES NO SERIES · all 407 - NO SERIESs on the register
- Registration
- B7723 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 9, 2015 at 0225 Universal Coordinated Time, a Bell 407, B-7723, was substantially damaged when it crashed at the Qiandao Lake General Aviation airport, Zhejiang Province P. R. China, while conducting a post-repair hovering test. A total of seven people were on board with 2 of the occupants reported as fatalities. The remaining five occupants received serious to minor injuries. The helicopter was being operated under the pertinent civil regulations of the Government of China. The accident is being investigated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The NTSB has designated a U.S. Accredited Representative under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13, as the state of manufacture for the engine. Further information pertaining to this accident should be directed to: Aircraft Accident Investigation Division Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) East China Regional Administration of CAAC 300, Yingbin Erlu, Changning Distract, Shanghai, 200335, P R China Tel: 0086 2122322180 Fax: 0086-21-32160050
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
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.