No fatalities

Pilot Experiences Chest Pain During Positioning Flight, Lands Uneventfully (N516MT)

Marion, VA, United States

On August 31, 2010, a BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 (registration N516MT) operated by MED-TRANS CORP was involved in an aviation accident near Marion, VA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cardiac impairment of the pilot during a positioning flight. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 16 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1785761257Data APIEditorial standards

A Bell 407 helicopter landed safely after the pilot experienced chest pain shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was undamaged and no injuries occurred.

Incident Overview

On August 30, 2010, at approximately 2020 eastern daylight time, a Bell 407 helicopter (registration N516MT) operated by Med-Trans Corporation completed an uneventful landing after the pilot reported physical discomfort during a positioning flight. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 from Smythe County Community Hospital Heliport (VG41) in Marion, Virginia, to Wythe County Community Hospital Heliport (22VA) in Wytheville, Virginia. The helicopter departed VG41 about 2014.

Pilot's Actions

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot began experiencing chest pains. The pilot informed the on-board medical crew of the intention to return to the departure heliport. The pilot then executed a return to VG41 and landed without incident.

Post-Landing Events

Following the landing, the pilot was airlifted by another company helicopter to a hospital in Tennessee for medical treatment. The helicopter sustained no damage, and there were no injuries to the commercial certificated pilot, nurse, or paramedic.

Meteorological Conditions and Flight Following

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight. Company flight following was active during the positioning flight.

Contributing factors

Pilot