History of Flight
On February 15, 2017, at 0023 central standard time, a Bell 429 helicopter, registration N598PB, impacted terrain and water at Wallace Lake near Shreveport, Louisiana. The private rated pilot and passenger were both fatally injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from a field in Bossier City, Louisiana, and was en route to Center Municipal Airport (F17), Center, Texas.
The helicopter was in contact with air traffic control. When the helicopter disappeared from radar unexpectedly and did not respond to radio communications, an alert notice was issued. The wreckage was located on the afternoon of February 15 at the southern end of Wallace Lake.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for helicopter, airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. His logbooks were not recovered; total flight time and night experience are unknown. The pilot held an instrument airplane rating, but it is unknown if he obtained any instrument helicopter training. On May 26, 2015, he was issued a third-class medical certificate with the limitation that he "must wear correct lenses for near and distant vision." He reported no medication use. The pilot attended the Bell Training Academy in late October 2016, logging 9.2 hours of flight instruction on the Bell 429, including autopilot operation, and 5.2 hours in a flight training device covering autopilot, onboard flight planning, and inadvertent IMC. All maneuvers were evaluated to FAA Practical Test Standards.
Aircraft Information
The Bell 429 is an eight-seat twin-engine, Category A, single-pilot IFR-certified rotorcraft equipped with autopilot and force trim systems. The force trim system uses spring force to hold flight controls to a detent position, which can be moved by releasing the control or using a motorized actuator. Flying without releasing force trim requires working against spring force. Force trim is required for autopilot coupling.
Complete maintenance logbooks were not recovered. Located records showed a scheduled maintenance inspection on October 31, 2016, at 12.1 total hours. The last annual inspection was on October 27, 2016, at 10.0 hours. The pilot purchased the helicopter on July 1, 2016, with about 30 total hours.
Meteorological Information
An NTSB meteorologist conducted a weather study. At 2356, Shreveport Municipal Airport (KSHV), 10 nautical miles north, reported wind 320° at 11 knots, visibility 4 statute miles, light drizzle and mist, broken ceiling at 700 ft, overcast at 1,300 ft, temperature 45°F, dew point 45°F, pressure 29.93 inHg. Drizzle began at 2251; ceiling varied between 500 and 900 ft. At 0049, wind 320° at 9 knots, visibility 7 miles, broken at 1,000 ft, overcast at 1,400 ft; drizzle ended at 0047.
Radar data showed conditions conducive for IMC and drizzle near the accident site at the accident time. No lightning strikes were detected. Two AIRMETs were issued at 2045 on February 14 for forecast IFR conditions due to precipitation and mist, and possible moderate turbulence below 8,000 ft, valid until 0900 on February 15. The Moon was waning gibbous (78% illuminated) but not visible due to cloud cover. No pilot weather briefing request was found.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Tree damage and a large crater were consistent with impact. The debris field fanned out about 20° either side of a 320° magnetic heading for about 80 yards in a marshy area. There was evidence of post-impact fire. The helicopter was fragmented and scattered. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage and main rotor hub at the end of the debris field.
The wreckage was removed and examined; no preimpact anomalies were found. The display unit (DU) was sent to Bell Helicopter for download.
Display Unit Download
Under NTSB and FAA auspices, the DU was downloaded. Data showed the helicopter lifted off from a field near Horseshoe Casino, Bossier City, at 0015. It departed southwest, then flew near the Red River southeast, maintaining 800–1,000 ft msl. At 0019, it turned right southwest. Tracking southwest on a 230° heading, altitude dropped to about 600 ft msl (500 ft agl). At 0022, the helicopter turned 30° bank left, descended to about 420 ft agl, then pitched up 40° nose high, climbing at 2,500 fpm to 1,470 ft msl (1,386 ft agl). It momentarily stabilized on a 055° heading. At 0023:00, it exceeded 45° left bank and 40° nose low. The last capture at 0023:13 showed 167 knots and descent >8,800 fpm. Control inputs were by the pilot throughout.
No airframe or engine problems were detected. The pilot flew most of the accident with Force Trim off and did not select flight director modes. At 0022:46 (27 seconds before impact), he armed airspeed hold mode, which presented flight director commands, but the autopilot could not engage because Force Trim was off. At 0022:56 (18 seconds before impact), he turned on Force Trim, but did not reselect an attitude mode. The manufacturer recommends turning on Force Trim shortly after takeoff.
Communications
At about 0017, an air traffic controller contacted the pilot upon entering Class C airspace, informing him of the airspace; the pilot proceeded on course to F17. No radar services were provided, and no distress call was recorded.
Medical and Pathological Information
Due to remains condition, an autopsy was not performed. FAA toxicology tested negative for ethanol. Detected: amphetamine, dihydrocodeine, nordiazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam. Amphetamine is a Schedule II CNS stimulant prescribed for ADD and narcolepsy. Dihydrocodeine is a metabolite of hydrocodone (Schedule II opioid).
According to the pilot's physician records, he had longstanding ADD treated with Vyvanse since before April 2015, and a history of joint pain with intermittent hydrocodone use. In 2015, he had a kidney stone and received a diazepam prescription. His last visit was on January 24, 2017, for ADD review and mildly elevated blood pressure. No comment on ADD symptoms or medication effectiveness.