U.S. board urges immediate inspections of Bell 407 helicopters

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Friday urged American and Canadian aviation regulators to require immediate inspections of key components on Bell 407 helicopters. The NTSB recommendation was prompted by its probe into the June 8 crash of a Bell 407 near Kalea, Hawaii, in which the tail boom separated from the fuselage during an air tour flight.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy noted there are hundreds of Bell 407 helicopters in service among tour operators, police departments, air ambulance providers and many others. "We’re calling on regulators to act immediately – before there’s another accident," Homendy said.

Helicopter maker Bell is a unit of Textron Inc.

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