# Accident 20120604011249A: Bell 427, Indiantown, FL, June 4, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 4, 2012, 10:19 local time
- Place: Indiantown, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.0314° N, 80.3508° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0314&lon=-80.3508&mi=10
- Aircraft: N427AL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N427AL-2012-10-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 427 (registry code 1182207, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-427) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 427
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,800 total, 1,350 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA379) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120604011249A

## Narrative

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

N427AL APPEARS TO HAVE STRUCK A LARGE BIRD IN THE HELICOPTERS ROTOR SYSTEM AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 800'.  THE PILOT'S REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SHAKING AT WHICH TIME THE P.I.C. INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO THE CLOSEST, SUITABLE LANDING AREA.  THE HELICOPTER'S LEVEL OF VIBRATION WAS DESCRIBED AS "VIOLENT" AND AT APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 25 FEET BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW.  ON LANDING, THE PILOT'S REPORTED THE LEFT REAR SKID HIT THE GROUND CAUSING A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER WITH THE AIRCRAFT COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE.  THE ACCIDENT SITE INSPECTION ALONG WITH THE FOLLOWING AIRCRAFT INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THE HELICOPTER HAD COME TO REST ON IT'S LEFT SIDE.  THE TAIL SECTION WAS DETACHED FROM THE FUSELAGE FROM A COMBINATION, GROUND STRIKE AND CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR BLADES.  TWO OF THE FOUR ROTOR BLADE PITCH CONTROL SERVOS WERE FOUND BROKEN WITH POSSIBLE BIRD REMAINS ON THEM.DNA SAMPLES OF THE POSSIBLE BIRD REMAINS ALONG WITH THE BROKEN PITCH CONTROL SERVOS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE NTSB FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.

## 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 ERA12LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA379), Jun 4, 2012: Bell 427 (N427AL), Indiantown, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inflight collision with birds, resulting in damage to the rotor head assembly and a subsequent forced landing and rollover.

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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