# NTSB investigations: Tail rotor

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.

Page 1 of 2 · 54 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR26LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA062.md): Bell 407 · Las Vegas, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 15, 2025 · N404LL · Substantial damage
  > Tail rotor blade impact from an unidentified object at an undetermined time.
- [NTSB CEN25LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA013.md): Rotorway Exec · Plymouth, IN · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 11, 2024 · N314AC · Substantial damage
  > A 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 WPR24LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA243.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Cottonwood, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 13, 2024 · N473E · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ANC24LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA013.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Glacier View, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 11, 2024 · N74868 · Substantial damage
  > A sudden stoppage of the tail rotor for unknown reasons, which resulted in the tortional overload failure of the tail rotor driveshaft.
- [NTSB ERA23LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA369.md): Eurocopter Deutschland EC135T2 · Fargo, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 13, 2023 · N273AM · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN23LA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA385.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206 · Hibbing, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 27, 2023 · N19BH · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ERA22LA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA340.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Mariner · Hollywood, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 27, 2022 · N42WC · Substantial damage
  > Inadequate 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 CEN22LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA328.md): Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 · Mount Vernon, IL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 20, 2022 · N228MT · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN22LA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA258.md): Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ · Waukesha, WI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 18, 2022 · N226SA · Substantial damage
  > The separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB WPR22LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA221.md): Bell 206B · Stockton, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 17, 2022 · N90326 · Substantial damage
  > Tail rotor blade impact with an unidentified object, which resulted in the loss of control and subsequent rollover of the helicopter.
- [NTSB ERA22FA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA257.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 · Fairfield, NJ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 4, 2022 · N98ZA · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ERA21LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA357.md): Enstrom F28 · Toughkenamon, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 8, 2021 · N51789 · Substantial damage
  > The 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 WPR20LA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA244.md): American Eurocopter AS350 · Pioche, NV · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 29, 2020 · N755AE · Destroyed
  > The 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 WPR20LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA224.md): Hiller UH 12D · Mehama, OR · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 17, 2020 · N2297W · Destroyed
  > An 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 WPR20LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA130.md): Bell UH 1H · Mesa, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 24, 2020 · N3276T · Substantial damage
  > An 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 ANC20LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA028.md): Eurocopter EC130 · Kalapana, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 5, 2020 · N11QK · Substantial damage
  > A 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 WPR19LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA255.md): Sikorsky S58 · Azusa, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 11, 2019 · N1168U · Substantial damage
  > The 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 WPR19LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA028.md): Bell 430 · Kailua, HI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 27, 2018 · N430ST · Substantial damage
  > The separation of one of the tail rotors blades’ root enclosures due to improper repair.
- [NTSB WPR18LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA221.md): Hughes 369 · Honolulu, HI · Accident · No injuries · Class 2 · Limited · Final report · Aug 8, 2018 · N369MH · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN18LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA313.md): Brantly B-2 · Midland, MI · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 3, 2018 · N5901X · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight separation of the tail rotor blade due to fatigue, which resulted in the subsequent emergency landing and dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB GAA18CA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA117.md): Hughes Helicopters 369 · Wrightwood, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 1, 2018 · N618SG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s high altitude, high gross weight landing with insufficient tail rotor thrust resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB CEN17LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA174.md): Bell 407 · Venice, LA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 2, 2017 · N457PH · Substantial damage
  > An 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 ERA16CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA160.md): Bell 206 · Baltimore, MD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 16, 2016 · N326AC · Destroyed
  > The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind while hovering out of ground effect, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB CEN16LA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA401.md): Agustawestland Philadelphia AW139 · Galliano, LA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 7, 2016 · N639NA · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue failure of a tail rotor blade erosion shield extension, which resulted in in-flight damage to a main rotor blade.
- [NTSB GAA16LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA056.md): Airbus EC135 · Apple Valley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 19, 2015 · N36RX · Substantial damage
  > The ingestion of a towel from an unsecured storage container at the landing site into the helicopter's fenestron during the landing.
- [NTSB ERA16CA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA060.md): Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 · Monongahela, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 6, 2015 · N639ME · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ANC15LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA073.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Fort Glenn, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 19, 2015 · N7162R · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN15LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA379.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Ketchum, OK · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 25, 2015 · N444KD · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN15LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA265.md): Bell 407 · Pecan Island, LA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 8, 2015 · N501PH · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue fracture of the tail rotor gearbox attachment studs, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor control and a subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN15LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA156.md): Agusta Aerospace AW119 Mkii · Gulf of Mexico · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 20, 2015 · N802SM · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN14LA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA401.md): Mosquito XE · Oshkosh, WI · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 2014 · CF-HEZ · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN14LA465](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA465.md): Bell 206B · Spring, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 30, 2014 · N866H · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN14LA418](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA418.md): Texas Helicopter OH 13H/M74A · Little Falls, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 28, 2014 · N51853 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree at the edge of a field that he was spraying.
- [NTSB CEN14LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA103.md): Bell 430 · West Delta 109 · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 5, 2014 · N430CT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from a handrail on a crane davit on an oil platform during landing.
- [NTSB ERA13FA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA273.md): Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Manchester, KY · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2013 · N114AE · Destroyed
  > The 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 CEN13FA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA192.md): Sikorsky S-76A++ · Grand Lake, LA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 15, 2013 · N574EH · Destroyed
  > Fracture 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 CEN13LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA155.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Tulsa, OK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 6, 2013 · N276RC · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN13LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA115.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Corcoran, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 23, 2012 · N27AT · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ERA12LA493](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA493.md): Sikorsky S-58JT · Middletown, DE · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 2012 · N126GW · Substantial damage
  > The 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 WPR12IA248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12IA248.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Seattle, WA · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · May 22, 2012 · N105TV · Minor damage
  > Failure 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 ERA12CA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA357.md): Hughes TH-55 · Pittsfield, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 19, 2012 · N74914 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during an encounter with loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB ANC11TA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11TA110.md): Bell 206 B3 · Seward, AK · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Sep 23, 2011 · N204PA · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ERA11IA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11IA320.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Mariner · Redding, CT · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · May 29, 2011 · N8313E · No damage
  > The 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 WPR11GA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11GA115.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF · Marana, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Jan 31, 2011 · N530RL · Substantial damage
  > An 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 WPR10FA440](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA440.md): Hiller UH 12E · Kamiah, ID · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 31, 2010 · N67264 · Substantial damage
  > In-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 CEN10FA509](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA509.md): Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Walnut Grove, AR · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 31, 2010 · N62AE · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of aircraft control, due to spatial disorientation, resulting in the in-flight separation of the main rotor and tail boom.
- [NTSB CEN10IA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10IA314.md): Bell 206L-3 · Gulf of Mexico · Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Jun 10, 2010 · N108PH · Minor damage
  > A 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 WPR10LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA200.md): Bell 222U · Santa Maria, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 9, 2010 · N222UT · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ERA10LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA118.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · New York, NY · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 18, 2010 · N696BH · Substantial damage
  > The 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 CEN09CA584](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA584.md): Yates W/Lazar M Safari Helicopter · Cedar Park, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 13, 2009 · N555BB · Substantial damage
  > An in-flight separation of the tail rotor blades and the tail rotor gearbox for undetermined reasons.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010464/cases.md?page=2

## 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."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
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010464/cases

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