Probable cause
The cardiac impairment of the pilot during a positioning flight.
NTSB analysis
During a positioning flight shortly after takeoff, the pilot began to have chest pains and he informed the on-board medical crew that he would be returning to the departure heliport. He landed uneventfully at the heliport and was then airlifted by a company helicopter to a hospital in Tennessee for medical treatment.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10IA459 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 31, 2010
- Type
- Incident
- Place
- Marion, Virginia
- Nearest airport
- Smyth County Community Hospita (VG41)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407
- N-number
- N516MT
- Category
- Helicopter
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.