# Accident 20221008016779A: Bell Textron Canada Ltd 505, Fort Myers, FL, October 8, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 8, 2022, 18:00 local time
- Place: Fort Myers, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.5127° N, 81.9371° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5127&lon=-81.9371&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5DF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5DF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Textron Canada 505 (registry code 1182166, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-textron-canada-505) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Safran ARRIUS-2R (registry code 59992, https://openairdocs.org/engine/safran-arrius-2r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL TEXTRON CANADA LTD 505
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 4
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221008016779A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING A LANDING ZONE (LZ) AT FIRE STATION 75. ABOUT 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, PILOT NOTICED FLAGS NEAR THE LZ AND ELECTED TO GO AROUND TO MAKE ANOTHER APPROACH TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE LIGHT WIND. POWER WAS ADDED TO INITIATE THE GO AROUND AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A “BUMP AND DIP” IN THE TAIL WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY SEVERE AND MASSIVE VIBRATION AND SHAKING OF THE HELICOPTER, WITH AN UNCOMMANDED LEFT YAW.

THE HELICOPTER THEN PITCHED UP AND ROLLED VIOLENTLY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED NEAR THE LZ, IN A DITCH.

THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE PILOT CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAUSE OF THE HELICOPTER TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS (LTE). AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS POSITIONED AS TO HAVE THE TAIL POINTED INTO THE WIND.

## 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 ERA23LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA011), Oct 8, 2022: Bell Textron Canada 505 (N5DF), Fort Myers, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s execution of a landing approach with a right, quartering tailwind, low forward airspeed, and high power demand that, when combined, resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and…

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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