# Accident 20090923017739A: Bell 407, Alliance, TX, September 23, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 2009, 15:40 local time
- Place: Alliance, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0486° N, 97.2950° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0486&lon=-97.2950&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6040Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6040Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C47B (registry code 54585, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c47b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C47B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 23,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA604](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA604) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090923017739A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS OPERATING THE CONTROLS OF THE HELICOPTER WHILE DEMONSTRATING A SIMULATED FADEC EMERGENCY PROEDURE, WITH THE FADEC CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE MANUAL POSITION.  WHILE THE FADEC IS IN THE MANUAL POSITION, ENGINE RPM MUST BE CONTROLLED MANUALLY BY THE THROTTLE.  DURING THE APPROACH TO A LANDING, AND AS THE AIRCRAFT TRANSITIONED INTO AN IN GROUND EFFECT HOVER, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DESCEND RAPIDLY IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE.  AS THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE COLLECTIVE PITCH, HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND, STRIKING THE TAIL SKID AND REAR SKID ASSEMBLY, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL SKID, VERTICAL STABILIZER, AND TAILBOOM.  AFTER LANDING, WITH THE AIRCRAFT STILL RUNNING, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT PERFORMED A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT TAIL SECTION BUT DID NOT OBSERVE ANY DAMAGE.  AFTER THE INSTRUCTOR COMPLETED THE INSPECTION, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN BACK TO THE AIRCRAFT HOME BASE, WHERE A POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED THE ACTUAL AIRCRAFT DAMAGE.

## 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 CEN09CA604](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA604), Sep 23, 2009: Bell 407 (N6040Y), Fort Worth, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to maintain control during landing.

## Other reports on N6040Y (2)

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

- [Accident 20170124007419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170124007419A), Jan 24, 2017: Bell 407 (N6040Y), Fort Worth Tx, TX, Substantial damage. During simulated fadec failure the engine and rotor entered into an overspeed condition. PIC pulled up on the collective to try to slow the rotor system…
- [Incident 20140129001549I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140129001549I), Jan 29, 2014: Bell 407 (N6040Y), Fort Worth, TX, No damage. On 1/29/14 at approximately 0730, N6040Y with a Bell instructor pilot and pilot trainee departed alliance Fort Worth airport (kafw) to the Bell training…

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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