NTSB Identification: ERA12FA527
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, August 24, 2012 in Abingdon, VA
Aircraft: BELL 407, registration: N407N
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 24, 2012, about 2230 eastern daylight time, a Bell 407, N407N, crashed into South Holston Lake during a night departure from a river bank in Abingdon, Virginia. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged when it impacted the water. The helicopter was registered to and operated by K-VA-T&W-L Aviation LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual night meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to a witness in a boat, he watched the helicopter land with the landing light on and the passengers exit the helicopter. The helicopter then departed without the landing light on and turned toward the lake, descended down an embankment, and made a turn over the lake. The helicopter traveled approximately 150 yards when the bottom skids collided with the lake. The helicopter nosed over and made a loud splash. The witness waited for a short moment and then turned on his spot light and moved towards the position of the helicopter. As he moved forward, his boat collided with the tail boom which was floating away from the fuselage. He continued forward and the cabin area was floating upside down.
The helicopter was recovered from the lake and is pending further examination by the NTSB.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 407N Make/Model: B407 Description: Bell 407
Date: 08/25/2012 Time: 0220
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: ABINGDON State: VA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
N407N BELL 407 ROTORCRAFT CRASHED INTO A LAKE, THE 1 PERSON ON BOARD IS
MISSING AND PRESUMED FATAL, NEAR ABINGDON, VA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: 0
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: RICHMOND, VA (EA21) Entry date: 08/27/2012
The body of Bill Starnes, the pilot who crashed his helicopter into South Holston Lake Friday, was recovered today in about 80 feet of water, according to the Virginia State Police.
State police officials had used sonar to locate the body and a dive team brought the body to surface around 3 p.m. Starnes was shuttling people back from the NASCAR race Friday at the Bristol Motor Speedway.
The helicopter crashed shortly after dropping people off at a residence on the lake.
A team will continue to recover the wreckage which is at the bottom of the lake.
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