# Incident 20201108021819I: Bell 407, Loiza, PR, November 8, 2020

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 8, 2020, 14:47 local time
- Place: Loiza, PR
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 18.4331° N, 65.8780° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Loíza, PR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.4331&lon=-65.8780&mi=10
- Aircraft: N139PD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N139PD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C47B (registry code 54585, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c47b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYCE 250-C47B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,375 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201108021819I

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER ORBITING ON VFR CONDITIONS AND IN CONTACT WITH SJU TOWER 4NM EAST.

DURING THE INTERVIEW, PIC STATED THAT DURING HOVER THEY EXPERIENCED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE AND STIFFNESS IN THE CYCLIC AND PEDALS  HE CONTINUED FLYING SIDEWAYS TO THE SHORE AND UPON REACHING IT PROCEEDED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON THE BEACH.

UPON ENGINE SHUTDOWN, FLIGHT CREW MADE AN AIRCRAFT INSPECTION. THEY FOUND ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE ACTUALLY DELAMINATED AT ITS TIP FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES DOWN ITS BLADE; NO FURTHER DAMAGE FOUND.

HELICOPTER MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE DETACHED AT THE INCIDENT SCENE AND THE AIRLIFTED TO THE PUERTO RICO POLICE DEPARTMENT (PRPD) AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE PREMISES.

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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