# Rotorcraft tail boom

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103) › [Fuselage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010353) › Rotorcraft tail boom
- NTSB code: 01035302
- Cases: 12
- In the probable cause: 9
- Fatal cases: 2
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035302/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035302/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035302

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 1 / 1
- 2009: 1 / 2
- 2010: 1 / 1
- 2011: 1 / 1
- 2012: 0 / 1
- 2013: 1 / 1
- 2015: 0 / 1
- 2022: 1 / 1
- 2023: 2 / 2
- 2024: 1 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 3 cases
- [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 2 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 1 cases
- [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 1 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 1 cases
- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 1 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 1 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 1 cases
- [Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Bell UH-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1b): 2 cases
- [Bell UH-1H](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h): 2 cases
- [Aerospatiale AS350B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350b2): 1 cases
- [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b): 1 cases
- [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a): 1 cases
- [MD Helicopters 369FF](https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-369ff): 1 cases
- [Bell 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407): 1 cases
- [Bell 214ST](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-214st): 1 cases
- [Bell 206L](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 2 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Fuselage attach fittings sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035340) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Between groups/organizations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04025020) (Organizational issues): 1 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010) (Personnel issues): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB WPR24LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA319), Sep 26, 2024: Bell 206L (N9984K), Fern Prairie, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An aeroelastic interaction between the helicopter’s main rotor blades and nodal beam system, which resulted in oscillations that exceeded the design limits of the tailboom. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB CEN23LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA295), Jul 11, 2023: Bell UH-1H (N900VF), Woodlawn, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the tail boom from the fuselage for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB ANC23LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA038), May 22, 2023: Aerospatiale AS350B2 (N745RH), Honolulu, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The instructor pilot’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction, which resulted in a hard landing, and substantial damage to the tail boom.
- [NTSB ANC22FA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22FA041), Jun 9, 2022: Bell 407 (N402SH), Kalea, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of the tail boom as a result of abnormal loading and fracture of the upper-left tail boom attachment bolt due to a gap between the upper-left longeron and aft fuselage…
- [NTSB GAA15CA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA280), Sep 22, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N44XL), West Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's improper use of pitch control during a demonstrated 180 degree autorotation which resulted in damage to the tail boom.
- [NTSB WPR13FA411](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA411), Sep 16, 2013: Bell UH 1B (N204UH), Detroit, OR, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the upper two tailboom attachment points, which resulted in the tailboom separating from the fuselage during logging operations. Contributing to the accident was poor…
- [NTSB DCA12FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA12FA024), Jan 16, 2012: Bell 214 (N5748M), Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: the overtravel of the collective sleeve, which led to a severe and sudden reduction in main rotor blade collective pitch, resulting in a loss of control of the helicopter. The reason for the…
- [NTSB CEN11LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA315), Apr 29, 2011: Hughes 269B (N9561F), Edgerton, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of clearance between the tail rotor drive shaft and the tailboom bulkhead for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the overstress failure of the drive shaft.
- [NTSB WPR10TA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10TA318), Jun 24, 2010: Bell UH-1H (N205KS), Santa Barbara, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of left tailboom upper attachment fitting as a result of fatigue.
- [NTSB CEN09LA565](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA565), Sep 6, 2009: Bell UH-1B (N204JB), Arvilla, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The aircraft owner/mechanic/pilot's installation of an improper tail boom assembly and the resulting fatigue failure of the tail boom's attach fittings.

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.