20080107013559I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Bell 407 · Deland, FL · January 7, 2008

Date: January 7, 2008 · 18:45 local
Place: Deland, FL
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: VC9C
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N801DS
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC08LA077
Reported as: Bell 407
Reported engine: Allison 250C47B
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,120 total1,608 in this make and model180 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot stated that while in cruise flight at approximately 700 feet, he heard a loud bang followed by a left yaw. He entered an autorotation and executed a successful night autorotation. Examination of the helicopter revealed a catastrophic engine failure of a turbine disc.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A LEFT YAW. HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND EXECUTED A SUCCESSFUL NIGHT AUTOROTATION. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OF A TURBINE DISC.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC08LA077Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDeLand, FLA total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of a third stage turbine wheel blade.Jan 7, 2008 · Substantial damage