NTSB investigations
54 cases where NTSB found Tail rotor.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Where
Open the mapLatest 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 f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '010464')) 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.
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 f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '010464')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB WPR26LA062Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Las Vegas, NVTail rotor blade impact from an unidentified object at an undetermined time.NTSB CEN25LA013Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRotorway Exec · Plymouth, INA loss of control due to the failed forward tail rotor belt as a result of the owner’s failure to follow the helicopter manufacturer’s tail rotor belt replacement recommendations.NTSB WPR24LA243Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Cottonwood, AZThe pilot’s low-speed, high-power maneuvering in high density altitude and near maximum gross weight, which resulted in an uncommanded right yaw due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a subsequent hard landing.NTSB ANC24LA013Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Glacier View, AKA sudden stoppage of the tail rotor for unknown reasons, which resulted in the tortional overload failure of the tail rotor driveshaft.NTSB ERA23LA369Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 · Fargo, GAThe separation of the outer span of a tail rotor blade during flight as a result of localized intergranular corrosion due to a diminished protective coating at a critical location on the tail rotor blade surface that, combined with cyclic loading, resulted in…NTSB CEN23LA385Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 206 · Hibbing, MNThe ground crew’s failure to secure the backpack at the landing zone (LZ), that resulted in the tail rotor impacting the backpack during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate selection of an area at the LZ, the lack of awareness…NTSB ERA22LA340Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Mariner · Hollywood, FLInadequate maintenance of the helicopter’s tail rotor blades, which resulted in a failure of the tail rotor drive system, and an inflight loss of yaw control from which the flight instructor was unable to recover.NTSB CEN22LA328Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter Deutschland EC 135 · Mount Vernon, ILThe inadequate securement of the cloth fire extinguisher cover, which resulted in it being blown off the fire extinguisher and ingested into the helicopter’s fenestron during the landing.NTSB CEN22LA258Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ · Waukesha, WIThe separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades for undetermined reasons.NTSB WPR22LA221Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Stockton, CATail rotor blade impact with an unidentified object, which resulted in the loss of control and subsequent rollover of the helicopter.NTSB ERA22FA257Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 · Fairfield, NJThe failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure the tail rotor crosshead drive plate and the failure of maintenance personnel, the maintenance pilot, and the accident pilot to detect the error, which led to the helicopter’s loss of tail rotor…NTSB ERA21LA357Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEnstrom F28 · Toughkenamon, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during an out-of-ground effect hover in a gusty wind, due to loss of tail rotor effectiveness.NTSB WPR20LA244Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Eurocopter AS350 · Pioche, NVThe pilot’s failure to maintain altitude from terrain and subsequent loss of helicopter control due to entanglement of the external load cable with the tail rotor.NTSB WPR20LA224Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportHiller UH 12D · Mehama, ORAn in-flight separation of a tail rotor blade due to fatigue cracking and overstress, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent ground impact.NTSB WPR20LA130Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell UH 1H · Mesa, AZAn in-flight separation of the tail rotor gearbox from the airframe due to fatigue failure of the gearbox attachment studs, resulting in a loss of directional control and subsequent ground impact. Contributing to the accident were 1) the improper application…NTSB ANC20LA028Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter EC130 · Kalapana, HIA loss of control due to the fatigue fracture of a tail rotor fenestron blade due to the geometry of the water drain hole positioning on the rib.NTSB WPR19LA255Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSikorsky S58 · Azusa, CAThe in-flight separation of a section of the tail rotor blade due to a fatigue crack, which resulted in the pilot’s forced autorotation into a field.NTSB WPR19LA028Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 430 · Kailua, HIThe separation of one of the tail rotors blades’ root enclosures due to improper repair.NTSB WPR18LA221Accident · No injuriesClass 2 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369 · Honolulu, HIThe operator's improper installation of the tail rotor (TR) teeter bearings, which resulted in cascading in-flight failures of the TR components and attach hardware.NTSB CEN18LA313Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBrantly B-2 · Midland, MIThe in-flight separation of the tail rotor blade due to fatigue, which resulted in the subsequent emergency landing and dynamic rollover.NTSB GAA18CA117Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHughes Helicopters 369 · Wrightwood, CAThe pilot’s high altitude, high gross weight landing with insufficient tail rotor thrust resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.NTSB CEN17LA174Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Venice, LAAn in-flight separation of the tip block from the tail rotor blade due to an inadequate blade repair, which resulted in a rotor imbalance sufficient to crack the gearbox attachment studs and gearbox support assembly, and inadequate postrepair test procedures,…NTSB ERA16CA160Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · Baltimore, MDThe pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind while hovering out of ground effect, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.NTSB CEN16LA401Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAgustawestland Philadelphia AW139 · Galliano, LAThe fatigue failure of a tail rotor blade erosion shield extension, which resulted in in-flight damage to a main rotor blade.NTSB GAA16LA056Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAirbus EC135 · Apple Valley, CAThe ingestion of a towel from an unsecured storage container at the landing site into the helicopter's fenestron during the landing.NTSB ERA16CA060Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportEurocopter Deutschland EC 135 · Monongahela, PAThe inadequate securing of the wheeled fire extinguisher's cover which resulted in it being blown off of the fire extinguisher and ingested into the helicopter's fenestron during takeoff, resulting in a loss of directional control.NTSB ANC15LA073Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Fort Glenn, AKThe separation of the tail rotor gearbox from the tailboom attachment point due to overstress loads imposed by a tail rotor blade imbalance as the result of impact with an undetermined object during low-level flight operations.NTSB CEN15LA379Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Ketchum, OKThe separation of the tail rotor gearbox from the tailboom aft bulkhead due to overstress loads imposed by a blade imbalance from an in-flight impact with an undetermined object.NTSB 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.NTSB CEN15LA156Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAgusta Aerospace AW119 Mkii · Gulf of MexicoThe fracture of the tail rotor pitch change link due to excessive bearing rotational friction, which resulted from the bearings being installed in exceedance of the maximum allowable torque during the last overhaul of the pitch change link.NTSB CEN14LA401Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMosquito XE · Oshkosh, WIThe failure of the retaining assembly on the tail rotor blade, which resulted in the separation of the blade and the subsequent loss of helicopter control.NTSB CEN14LA465Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Spring, TXThe pilot's distraction by a cell phone call, which led to his failure to perform an exterior check of the helicopter and resulted in a tie-down strap remaining attached to the main rotor during the engine start.NTSB CEN14LA418Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportTexas Helicopter OH 13H/M74A · Little Falls, MNThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree at the edge of a field that he was spraying.NTSB CEN14LA103Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 430 · West Delta 109The pilot’s failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from a handrail on a crane davit on an oil platform during landing.NTSB ERA13FA273Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Manchester, KYThe pilot’s loss of helicopter control due to spatial disorientation when he inadvertently encountered night, instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the main rotor and tailboom.NTSB CEN13FA192Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportSikorsky S-76A++ · Grand Lake, LAFracture of the red tail rotor blade spar, which resulted in the separation and departure of the red tail rotor blade from the helicopter and subsequent compromised tail gearbox. The red tail rotor blade was not recovered, thus the cause of the initial…NTSB CEN13LA155Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Tulsa, OKThe line technician’s failure to remove the refueling mat from the helicopter fuselage following servicing, which resulted in the mat striking the tail rotor in flight, and the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.NTSB CEN13LA115Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Corcoran, MNThe pilot’s improper decision to land the helicopter in a position that placed the tail rotor near tarps, which resulted in the tarps being lifted into the tail rotor, subsequent tail rotor damage, a loss of tail rotor authority, and an uncommanded tail rotor…NTSB ERA12LA493Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSikorsky S-58JT · Middletown, DEThe pilot's failure to recognize that the helicopter was experiencing tail rotor dynamic instability and to take immediate corrective actions during an external load lift, which resulted in the failure of a tail rotor blade.NTSB WPR12IA248Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportEurocopter AS 350 B2 · Seattle, WAFailure of maintenance personnel to ensure that the tail rotor pitch change link bolt was properly secured, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the bolt and subsequent vibration.NTSB ERA12CA357Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHughes TH-55 · Pittsfield, PAThe student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during an encounter with loss of tail rotor effectiveness.NTSB ANC11TA110Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBell 206 B3 · Seward, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain during hover in deteriorating weather and flat light conditions, which resulted in a tail rotor strike.NTSB ERA11IA320Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Mariner · Redding, CTThe pilot's inadequate helicopter preflight inspection and the mechanic’s inadequate annual inspection, both of which failed to detect a worn bolt in the tail rotor teeter hinge prior to its fracture due to fatigue.NTSB WPR11GA115Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF · Marana, AZAn inadvertent tail rotor strike during an attempted pinnacle landing, which resulted in the pilot's loss of control of the helicopter. Inhospitable terrain/topography contributed to the severity of the accident.NTSB WPR10FA440Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportHiller UH 12E · Kamiah, IDIn-flight impact of a passenger's metal clipboard with the helicopter’s tail rotor, which resulted in destruction of the tail rotor and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. The original location of the clipboard and how it became free could not be…NTSB CEN10FA509Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Walnut Grove, ARThe pilot’s loss of aircraft control, due to spatial disorientation, resulting in the in-flight separation of the main rotor and tail boom.NTSB CEN10IA314Incident · Minor injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Gulf of MexicoA suspected failure of the tail rotor for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the failure of the emergency floats to properly inflate due to improper installment and inspection by maintenance personnel.NTSB WPR10LA200Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 222U · Santa Maria, CAThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection to ensure that all tie-down straps were removed prior to flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper management of sleep opportunities during the preceding rest period, which likely contributed to…NTSB ERA10LA118Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEurocopter AS 350 B2 · New York, NYThe failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure one tail rotor pitch change link to its respective tail rotor blade resulting in an in-flight separation of the link from the blade. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an adequate…NTSB CEN09CA584Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportYates W/Lazar M Safari Helicopter · Cedar Park, TXAn in-flight separation of the tail rotor blades and the tail rotor gearbox for undetermined reasons.