# Accident 20030519011429A: Bell 407, Franklin, LA, May 19, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 19, 2003, 09:45 local time
- Place: Franklin, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5331° N, 91.1494° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5331&lon=-91.1494&mi=10
- Aircraft: N991SP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N991SP-2004-02-06) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW03TA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03TA156) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030519011429A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON APPROACH TO LANDING, PILOT REALIZED HE HAD A TAIL ROTOR CONTROL PROBLEM. DUE TO OBSTACLES, HE ALTERED HIS APPROACH TO A CANE FIELD FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SPIN, THROTTLE CUT, AUTOROTATION INITIATED AND AIRCRAFT IMPACTED HARD, COMPRESSING SKID CROSSTUBES NEARLY FLAT. EMERGENCY FLOAT BOTTLES UNDERNEATH AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE AIRCRAFT BOTTOM CREATING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. INVESTIGATION YIELDED THE PIVOT BOLT ATTACHING THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL IDLER ASSEMBLY WAS MISSING.

## 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 FTW03TA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03TA156), May 19, 2003: Bell 407 (N991SP), Franklin, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of tail rotor effectiveness due to the inadequate maintenance performed by other company personnel.

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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