# Fatal NTSB investigations: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR22FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA101.md): Mcdonnell Douglas 500N · Newport Beach, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 20, 2022 · N521HB · Substantial damage
  > The helicopter’s encounter with unanticipated right yaw during a low-altitude, low-airspeed, tight-radius orbit. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction during the orbit, which resulted in the loss of control, his fatigue due to his early…
- [NTSB CEN22FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA086.md): Bell 206B · Livingston, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 30, 2021 · N8AU · Substantial damage
  > The pilot exceeding the yaw control capability of the helicopter for the flight conditions, resulting in a non-mechanical loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB CEN18FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA001.md): Brantly B 2B · Midland, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 1, 2017 · N2284U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, and his failure to promptly initiate the proper recovery technique, which resulted in a descent that could not be arrested before impacting the…
- [NTSB CEN15FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA003.md): Bell Helicopter Textron 206L 1 · Wichita Falls, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 4, 2014 · N335AE · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control when he applied power to execute a go-around at a low airspeed in dark, night conditions, which resulted in a rapid, uncommanded right yaw due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB ERA14WA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14WA047.md): Robinson R66 · Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Nov 20, 2013 · PR-MXM · Substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR13FA343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA343.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Thompson Falls, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 27, 2013 · N25WH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while operating in conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB ERA12MA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12MA005.md): Bell 206B · New York, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Oct 4, 2011 · N63Q · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to anticipate and correct for conditions (high gross weight, low indicated airspeed, and a right downwind turn) conducive to loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE), which resulted in LTE and an uncontrolled spin. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB ERA11WA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11WA215.md): Bell 205 · San Clemente, Chile · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Mar 24, 2011 · CC-CID · Destroyed
- [NTSB DEN08FA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08FA092.md): McDonnell Douglas Helicopter C MD 500E · Sunrise Beach, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 26, 2008 · N686F · Substantial damage
  > The loss of tail rotor effectiveness and the pilot's failure to regain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly in known adverse weather conditions and the gusty winds generated from convective outflow. Contributing to…

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '242' 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
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence?fatal=1

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