# Accident 20030327012439A: Bell 407, Broaddus, TX, March 27, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 27, 2003, 18:26 local time
- Place: Broaddus, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: PG9A
- Location: 31.0538° N, 97.5633° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0538&lon=-97.5633&mi=10
- Aircraft: N175PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N175PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C47B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 8,741 total, 125 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW03FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA118) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030327012439A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MARCH 27, 2003, AT 1626 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 407 HELICOPTER, REGISTRATION N175PA, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR BROADDUS, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE OBSERVER ABOARD THE HELICOPTER WERE FATALLY INJURED. THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER, SERIAL NUMBER 53154, WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY PAPILLON HELICOPTERS, A 135 ON DEMAND OPERATOR, CERTIFICATE NUMBER PG9A. THE HELICOPTER WAS PARTICIPATING IN A PUBLIC USE OPERATION IN THE COLUMBIA SHUTTLE RECOVERY PROJECT AND WAS TEMPORARILY BASE IN THE LUFKIN, TEXAS AREA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. INITIAL INDICATIONS REVEAL THE ENGINE LOST POWER. INTERVIEWS OF TWO OF THE SURVIVING PASSENGERS ALSO SHOW EVIDENCE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE FADEC FOR THE ROLLS ROYCE 250-C47 ENGINE WAS RECOVERED FOR ANALYSIS AT THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER'S FACILITY. TEARDOWN OF THE UNITS HAVE INITIALLY SHOWN THAT THE POWER LEVER POTENTIOMETER HAD FAILED, ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO GO TO A MINIMUM FUEL FLOW CONDITION. MORE TESTS ARE SCHEDULED.

## 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 FTW03FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA118), Mar 27, 2003: Bell 407 (N175PA), Broadus, TX, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to erratic fuel flow metering to the engine resulting from the single point failure of the PLA potentiometer in the hydro-mechanical fuel control unit. A…

## Other reports on N175PA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20000416005779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000416005779A), Apr 16, 2000: Bell 407 (N175PA), Grand Canyon, AZ, No damage. (-23) During cruise flight, the pilot felt a severe vibration eminating from the rear portion of the helicopter. The pilot immediately entered autorotation to…

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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