# Accident 20090302002519A: Bell 206L4, Galliano, LA, March 2, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 2, 2009
- Place: Galliano, LA
- Airport: South Lafourche Leonard Miller
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: YTRA
- Location: 29.4378° N, 90.2567° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4378&lon=-90.2567&mi=10
- Aircraft: N410RL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N410RL-2020-10-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4 (registry code 1181455, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-206l-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250 20&30 series (registry code 54584, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-20-30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L4
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,292 total, 81 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA198) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090302002519A

## Narrative

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

(-23) A MECHANIC HAD PERFORMED MAINTENANCE ON THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT, TO BE EXACT, THE NR 7 DRIVE SHAFT AND THE WHOLE GAR-LOCK SEAL COVER INPUT ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED TO FACILITATE REMOVAL OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX.  SINCE THE SHAFT BUSHING COULD NOT BE REMOVED TO FACILITATE THE REMOVAL OF THE LEAKING SEAL, THE MECHANIC PROCEEDED TO RE-INSTALL THE DRIVE SHAFT, HE RE-INSTALLED THE NUTS AND BOLTS FINGER TIGHT, WHEN THE NEW TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX WAS INSTALLED, THE DRIVE SHAFT COWLING WAS CLOSED, AND NOBODY NOTICED THE NR 7 DRIVE SHAFT WAS LOOSE.  A MAINTENANCE FLIGHT WAS PERFORMED, AND NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND.  THE NEXT DAY, A REVENUE FLIGHT WAS BEGINNING, DURING RUN UP, THE DRIVE SHAFT SEPARATED AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OCCURED.

## 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 CEN09LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA198), Mar 2, 2009: Bell 206 (N410RL), Galliano, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the tail rotor driveshaft and coupling during engine start due to the mechanic's failure to properly reattach the tail rotor driveshaft and coupling during maintenance.

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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