# Accident 20011110034549A: Bell 407, Erath, LA, November 10, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 10, 2001, 17:00 local time
- Place: Erath, LA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: IIFA
- Location: 29.9495° N, 92.0293° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9495&lon=-92.0293&mi=10
- Aircraft: N517R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011110034549A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED AN OFFSHORE OIL/GAS PLATFORM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO (SMI 253) TO RETURN TO INDUSTRIAL HELICOPTERS' BASE AT SCOTT, LA (10LA) WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON THE OFFSHORE PLATFORM, SERVICE PERSONNEL PLACED TWO FIRE EXTINGUISHERS IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT OF THE HELICOPTER AND DID NOT SECURE THEM. ON THE INBOARD LEG TO SCOTT, LA THE PILOT INDUCED A SHARP RIGHT YAW AND CAUSED THE TWO FIRE BOTTLES TO SLAM AGAINST THE CARGO COMPARTMENT DOOR. THE CARGO DOOR OPENED AT THE BOTTOM LATCH, ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TIE DOWN ROPES TO STREAM OUT OF THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT AND WRAP AROUND THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX DRIVE SHAFT. METAL ENDS OF THE TIE DOWN ROPE HIT THE TAILBOOM, VERTICAL FINS AND TAIL ROTOR. THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SHEARED AT A THOMAS COUPLING CAUSING A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN NO FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW02LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA033), Nov 10, 2001: Bell 407 (N517R), Erath, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertant application of full right pedal which resulted in the baggage compartment door to open in-flight and a tie down rope to become entangled in the tail rotor drive system, and…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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