# Accident 20030511013379A: Bell 407, Morgan City, LA, May 11, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2003, 15:33 local time
- Place: Morgan City, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HEEA
- Location: 29.6867° N, 91.1717° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6867&lon=-91.1717&mi=10
- Aircraft: N491PH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N491PH-2025-11-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,270 total, 1,777 in this make and model, 158 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW03FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA148) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030511013379A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE "FADEC FAIL" WARNING ACTIVATED AND THE ROTOR RPM DECAYED TO ABOUT 90%. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE FADEC DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH TO "MANUAL", AND THE ENGINE SURGED 3 TIMES WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY SWITCH TO "MANUAL". THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION LANDING TO A CANAL WITH THE HELICOPTER'S EMERGENCY FLOATS DEPLOYED. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WINGLETS AND THE LAST SEGMENT OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT DURING THE LANDING. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A CAPACITOR IN THE ENGINE'S ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FAILED.

## 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 FTW03FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA148), May 11, 2003: Bell 407 (N491PH), Gulf Of Mexico, substantial damage. Probable cause: The short circuit of the C321capacitor in the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that resulted in a single-point failure of the ECU's -15V power supply which disengaged/reverted the Hydro-mechanical Unit…

## Other reports on N491PH (1)

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

- [Incident 20040208002449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040208002449I), Feb 8, 2004: Bell 407 (N491PH), Houma, LA, Minor damage. (-23) While executing an approach to landing at an offshore helideck, SS248G, the pilot stated that he noticed a large gathering of pelicans, a large saltwater…

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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