# Accident 20121229028249A: Bell 407, Big Lake, TX, December 29, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 29, 2012, 11:48 local time
- Place: Big Lake, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: M3XA
- Location: 31.1950° N, 101.4708° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1950&lon=-101.4708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N534MT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYCE 250-C47B
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,791 total, 1,662 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA119) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121229028249A

## Narrative

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

ON 12/29/2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:53 AM CST, THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO MAKE A HARD LANDING IN WHICH THE MAIN ROTOR CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TAIL AND CUT OFF THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY AND PORTIONS OF THE STABILIZER.  THERE WAS A PATIENT ON-BOARD BEING TRANSFERRED FROM FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS TO SAN ANGELO, TEXAS.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED BY THE 3 CREW MEMBERS AT THE TIME.

## 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 CEN13LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA119), Dec 29, 2012: Bell 407 (N534MT), Big Lake, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the outer combustion case at the fuel nozzle port. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to conduct the recommended routine…

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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