# Accident 20170502005009A: Bell 407, Boothville, LA, May 2, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2017, 06:30 local time
- Place: Boothville, LA
- Airport: Boothville
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HEEA
- Location: 29.3100° N, 89.2981° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3100&lon=-89.2981&mi=10
- Aircraft: N457PH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N457PH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,272 total, 1,938 in this make and model, 190 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA174) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170502005009A

## Narrative

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

A BELL 407 HELICOPTER WAS ENROUTE TO AN OFFSHORE LOCATION . AT APPROXIMATELY THREE (3) MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF ON THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY, THE PILOT HEARD A "POP" WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A VIBRATION HE DIAGNOSED AS EMANATING FROM THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT FROM CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 1,750 AND HEADED TOWARD A HELIDECK THAT WAS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. AFTER LANDING AND REDUCING THE ROTOR RPM TO IDLE, THE PILOT NOTED AN INCREASE IN VIBRATION, AT WHICH TIME HE SECURED THE ENGINE AND STOPPED THE ROTOR SYSTEM USING THE AIRCRAFT'S ROTOR BRAKE. POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED A MISSING TAIL ROTOR BLADE TIP CAP AND WEIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE AND DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX FAIRING.

## 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 CEN17LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA174), May 2, 2017: Bell 407 (N457PH), Venice, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight separation of the tip block from the tail rotor blade due to an inadequate blade repair, which resulted in a rotor imbalance sufficient to crack the gearbox attachment studs and gearbox…

## Other reports on N457PH (1)

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

- [Accident 20031201033579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031201033579A), Dec 1, 2003: Bell 407 (N457PH), Galveston, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) At approximately 08:15 the pilot departed gulf platform high island 573 in route for high island 264. Approximately 3 to 4 minutes later the dispatcher…

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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