# Accident 20260429004799A: Bell 407, Young, AZ, April 29, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 29, 2026, 08:30 local time
- Place: Young, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1592° N, 111.1033° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1592&lon=-111.1033&mi=10
- Aircraft: N407BB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N407BB) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA172) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260429004799A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER, FOR PERSONAL USE, WAS LANDING IN A CLEARING ON A MOUNTAIN RANGE IN YOUNG, AZ. WHEN DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE HE STRUCK A SMALL TREE WITH THE TAIL ROTOR. HE WAS STILL ABOUT 3-5 FEET OFF THE GROUND, WHEN TAIL ROTOR STRUCK, AND HE COMPLETED THE LANDING FAST DUE TO LOST OF THE TAIL CONTROLS.

## 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 WPR26LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA172), Apr 29, 2026: Bell 407 (N407BB), Young, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree stump during landing in mountainous terrain.

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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