NTSB investigations: Bell 407

13 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell 407, where the sequence of events included Hard landing. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20092026
NTSB investigations: Bell 407 per year, 2009–2026: 13 cases
20091
20102
20121
20151
20171
20201
20211
20221
20231
20241
20251
20261

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1182206')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s.\"tier2Number\" = '092' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"isDefiningEvent\")))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB ERA26LA170Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Jacksonville, FLThe pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving the instruction.Apr 11, 2026 · N314JP · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA380Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Decatur, TXThe instructor candidate’s erroneous operation of the throttle during an autorotation from altitude with power recovery, which resulted in a hard landing.Sep 16, 2025 · N407WA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA265Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Raft River, IDThe pilot’s misdiagnosis of an erroneous engine instrument indication and his subsequent decision to enter an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing due to degraded visual cues and low ambient light conditions. Contributing to the accident were the…Aug 3, 2024 · N20BH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA045Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Chesterfield, VAA hard landing, which resulted in a main rotor strike of the left vertical stablizer.Nov 16, 2023 · N26VA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA053Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Searcy, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the electrical box while repositioning.Nov 19, 2022 · N184SF · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA264Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Tampa, FLThe pilot’s improper landing flare while making a power off practice autorotative landing. Contributing was the decreased visual cues provided by the recently paved runway during the night landing conducted with the aid of night vision goggles.Jun 22, 2021 · N512TP · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA395Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportBell 407 · Fort Worth, TXThe flight instructor’s delay in rolling the throttle to the fly position during a practice autorotation maneuver that resulted in a hard landing.Sep 15, 2020 · N489DM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17LA188Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Fort Worth, TXThe flight instructor's failure to prevent the engine/rotor overspeed condition during the demonstration maneuver and the excessive descent rate during the emergency landing, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the engine/rotor overspeed…Jan 24, 2017 · N6040Y · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15LA265Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Pecan Island, LAThe fatigue fracture of the tail rotor gearbox attachment studs, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor control and a subsequent hard landing.Jun 8, 2015 · N501PH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12LA242Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Aberdeen, SDThe fatigue failure of two turbine engine blades due to vibration.Apr 14, 2012 · N509MT · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11LA056Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Riverdale, UTThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a highway marker sign while maneuvering.Nov 22, 2010 · N408UH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10TA261Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBell 407 · Abingdon, VAThe improper repair of an engine component by a repair facility, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the repair facility to recognize that an improper repair had been accomplished, which allowed…May 11, 2010 · N31VA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09CA203Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 407 · Lancaster, TXThe failure of the pilot to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and the failure of the CFI to provide appropriate instruction during the maneuver.Feb 27, 2009 · N2592T · Substantial damage