# Accident 20030425008149A: Bell 407, Houma, LA, April 25, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 25, 2003
- Place: Houma, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HEEA
- Location: 29.5786° N, 90.7079° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houma, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5786&lon=-90.7079&mi=10
- Aircraft: N501PH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501PH-2025-04-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C47 series (registry code 03029, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c47-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030425008149A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED TWO SUBSEQUENT MOMENTARY VIBRATIONS DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO INVESTIGATE THE VIBRATIONS. APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF TO ENTER AUTOROTATION. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD BUT REMAINED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT BEARING IN THE NUMBER 5 POSITION ON THE TAILBOOM SUSTAINED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, AND EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

## Other reports on N501PH (1)

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

- [Accident 20150608009789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150608009789A), Jun 8, 2015: Bell 407 (N501PH), Pecan Island, LA, Substantial damage. The aircraft was about 2 miles off shore in-bound at 1200'. Pilot and passengers heard "thud" & felt short duration vibration. Pilot lowered collective…

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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