20000614025119I

Incident

FAA incident report · Bell 407 · Gomex, LA · June 14, 2000

Date: June 14, 2000 · 06:49 local
Place: Gomex, LA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: HEEA
Aircraft: N437PH
Reported as: Bell 407
Reported engine: Allison 250C47B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,438 total659 in this make and model81 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23)While at a 700 feet cruise flight, the pilot heard a loud grinding noise coming from the engine area. The pilot declared emergency and tried to reach a small platform (unsuccessfully). The mgt exceeded limitations along with apparent engine failure. The pilot entered an autorotation, closed throttle and shut off the fuel supply from the engine. Pilot made a mayday call and gave his location. The pilot landed the aircraft with floats deployed.

As the FAA filed it

(-23)WHILE AT A 700 FEET CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE PILOT DECLARED EMERGENCY AND TRIED TO REACH A SMALL PLATFORM (UNSUCCESSFULLY). THE MGT EXCEEDED LIMITATIONS ALONG WITH APPARENT ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION, CLOSED THROTTLE AND SHUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY FROM THE ENGINE. PILOT MADE A MAYDAY CALL AND GAVE HIS LOCATION. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT WITH FLOATS DEPLOYED.