# Accident 20210925013101A: Bell 407, Patterson, LA, September 25, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 25, 2021, 07:00 local time
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Collision on the ground
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: YTRA
- Location: 29.7090° N, 91.3359° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7090&lon=-91.3359&mi=10
- Aircraft: N662RL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N662RL) (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-ROYC 250-C47B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,350 total, 250 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA456](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA456) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210925013101A

## Narrative

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

FOG IN THE AREA CAUSED THE WINDSCREEN TO BE IN NEED OF CLEARING. AIRMAN DEPARTED WITH POOR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN. THIS CAUSED HER TO UNKNOWINGLY DRIFT REARWARD INTO THE ROTATING BLADES OF ANOTHER 407 HELICOPTER. THE AIRMAN COMPLETED A SUCCESSFUL HOVERING AUTOROTATION AS A RESULT OF THE TAIL ROTOR SEPARATING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ALSO, THE AIRMAN DEVIATED FROM HER NORMAL ENGINE RINSE PROCEDURES IN AN EFFORT TO LEAVE FIRST FROM THE PARKING AREA FOR FUEL. THE COMPANY HAD RECENTLY MOVED OPERATIONS TO THE AREA DUE TO HURRICANE IDA. THE AIRMAN INDICATED THE EXCESS NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA CAUSED LESS THAN IDEAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THEM.

## 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 CEN21LA456](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA456), Sep 25, 2021: Bell 407 (N662RL), Patterson, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a parked helicopter while hovering to reposition for takeoff.

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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