# Accident 20230801008179A: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, North Charlesto, SC, August 1, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2023, 15:27 local time
- Place: North Charlesto, SC
- Airport: Charleston International Airpo
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: C0SM
- Location: 32.9061° N, 80.0433° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9061&lon=-80.0433&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31PB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31PB-2025-12-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 (registry code 1182154, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-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 HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C47B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,743 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA319) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230801008179A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 1, 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 HOURS (LOCAL),  A BELL HELICOPTER 407 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE CHARLESTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CHS) IN NORTH CHARLESTON, SC.  THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.

THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN TO SUMTER AIRPORT (SMS) IN SUMTER, SC FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE EARLIER IN THE DAY.  AFTER COMPLETION OF THE MAINTENANCE, THE PIC DEPARTED SMS ENROUTE TO HOME STATION AT CHS.  THE PIC REPORTED THAT AFTER ABOUT 35 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO YAW SLOWLY TO THE RIGHT.  HE APPLIED LEFT PEDAL WITH NO RESPONSE.  HE STATED IT FELT LIKE THE PEDALS WERE NOT ATTACHED.  THE PIC CONTACTED CHS TOWER AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY.  HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A STRAIGHT IN RUN ON LANDING TO RUNWAY 15.  AFTER CROSSING THE THRESHOLD AT APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO YAW TO THE RIGHT.  THE PIC STATED HE REDUCED COLLECTIVE BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO YAW RIGHT.  AT THIS POINT, THE PIC REDUCED THROTTLE TO IDLE AND ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL ATTITUDE.  THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AT A HIGH RATE OF DECENT AND IMPACTED THE SOD TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY.

ON AUGUST 2, 2023 THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS EXAMINED.  DURING INSPECTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY A BOLT WAS DISCOVERED MISSING FROM THE LEVER ASSEMBLY AND THE BOTTOM BOLT’S NUT WAS LOOSE AND NO COTTER PIN OBSERVED.

THE AIRCRAFT AND MAINTENANCE LOGBOOK WERE RETAINED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.

## 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 ERA23LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA319), Aug 1, 2023: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 (N31PB), North Charleston, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the tail rotor pitch change lever assembly due to incorrectly installed bolts and maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the tail rotor control system.

## Other reports on N31PB (1)

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

- [Accident 20120323005219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120323005219A), Mar 23, 2012: Bell 407 (N31PB), Delray Beach, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot in command initiated a throttle rollback on the pilot flying from approximately 800 feet AGL. The flying pilot was slow to react. The flying pilot…

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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