# Accident 20120807018389A: Bell 214ST, Avalon, TX, August 7, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 7, 2012, 08:40 local time
- Place: Avalon, TX
- Airport: Arlington Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.2739° N, 96.7658° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2739&lon=-96.7658&mi=10
- Aircraft: N409SB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N409SB-2015-06-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron 214ST (registry code 1182126, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-214st) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: GE CT7 series (registry code 30030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-ct7-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 214ST
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,591 total, 2 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA525](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA525) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120807018389A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT N409SB DEPARTED KGKY ON A FLIGHT TEST PLAN FOR A NEW ROTOR SYSTEM TO BE INSTALLED IN THE BELL 525. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON IT'S 3RD FLIGHT TEST. THEY INCREASED SPEED TO 120 KIAS AND HAD JUST COMPLETED A 20 DEGREE TURN. A LOUD BANG AND ASSOCIATED YAW OCURRED. THE CHASE AIRCRAFT IDENTIFIED THAT SOMETHING HAD DEPARTED THE TAIL. IT IS BELIEVED THAT HE THEY STATED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR WAS GONE. THE PIC ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION PROFILE AND LANDED IN A NEARBY COTTON FIELD. NO INJURIES FOR PIC OR SIC. THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO FWD MOMENTUM, AND VERY LITTLE MAIN ROTOR SPEED AS THERE WAS ALMOST NO DEBRIS FROM BLADE IMPACT. THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY WITH MOST OF THE T/R GEARBOX HPOUSING WAS FOUND ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE CRASH SIGHT. ONE BLADE WAS ABOUT 250 FEET FROM THE T/R HUB ASSY/GEARBOX HOUSING. THE OTHER T/R BLADE WAS ABOUT 8 FEET FROM THE T/R ASSY. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE T/R COUNTERWEIGHT WAS MISSING, AND WAS NOT FOUND.

## 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 CEN12LA525](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA525), Aug 7, 2012: Bell 214ST (N409SB), Avalon, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly torque the retaining nut and install the cotter pin that secured the helicopter’s tail rotor counterweight bellcrank. Contributing to the accident was the…

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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