20151102019619A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Bell 407 · San Antonio, TX · November 2, 2015

Date: November 2, 2015 · 19:23 local
Place: San Antonio, TX
Airport: San Antonio
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: EVAC
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N496AE
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN16LA027
Reported as: Bell 407
Reported engine: Rolls Royce 250-C47B
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 167 total70 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N496AERegistered now · Bell 407S/N 53328 · Built 1999 Airframe modelBell 407 Engine modelAllison 250-C47 seriesTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On November 2, 2015 a Bell helicopter (operating under 14 CFR part 135 helicopter emergency medical services (hems), started lifting to a 3 to 4 feet hover, when PIC heard a pop and a high pitch whine. Aircraft spun one full rotation at 3 feet AGL. PIC lowered aircraft to a full stop. Three crew members on board, there were no injuries reported.

As the FAA filed it

ON NOVEMBER 2, 2015 A BELL HELICOPTER (OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 135 HELICOPTER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (HEMS), STARTED LIFTING TO A 3 TO 4 FEET HOVER, WHEN PIC HEARD A POP AND A HIGH PITCH WHINE. AIRCRAFT SPUN ONE FULL ROTATION AT 3 FEET AGL. PIC LOWERED AIRCRAFT TO A FULL STOP. THREE CREW MEMBERS ON BOARD, THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN16LA027Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSan Antonio, TXThe failure of the No. 3 tail rotor adapter and shaft due to a loss of torque on the retaining nut. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a requirement to inspect the tail rotor assembly for security in the helicopter manufacturer's maintenance manual…Nov 3, 2015 · Substantial damage