# Incident 20040819023639I: Bell 412, Venice, LA, August 19, 2004

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 19, 2004, 07:05 local time
- Place: Venice, LA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HEEA
- Location: 29.0994° N, 88.8697° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0994&lon=-88.8697&mi=10
- Aircraft: N22347, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22347-2017-02-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 412 (registry code 1182202, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 series (registry code 52103, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6t-3-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 412
- People aboard: 9
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 15,549 total, 2,642 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04IA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04IA217) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040819023639I

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT LOST THE TAIL ROTOR AND THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX IN CRUISE FLIGHT OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING TO THE WATER WITH THE EMERGENCY FLOATS INFLATED. THE TWO PILOTS AND SEVEN PASSENGERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE EMERGENCY RAFTS AND WERE PICKED UP BY A BOAT. THE TAIL ROTOR AND A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX IS SCHEDULED FOR METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS. THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTION SAFETY BOARD IS ALSO CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS INCIDENT (REF. NTSB INCIDENT NO. FTW04IA217).

## 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 FTW04IA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04IA217), Aug 19, 2004: Bell 412 (N22347), South Pass 65, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The failure and separation of the tail rotor gearbox for undetermined reasons.

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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