# Tail rotor, general - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft propeller/rotor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0104) › [Tail rotor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010464) › Tail rotor, general - NTSB code: 01046400 - Cases: 23 - In the probable cause: 20 - Fatal cases: 4 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046400/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046400/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046400 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 0 / 1 - 2009: 1 / 1 - 2010: 2 / 2 - 2011: 1 / 1 - 2012: 3 / 3 - 2013: 1 / 1 - 2015: 2 / 3 - 2016: 1 / 2 - 2018: 1 / 1 - 2020: 2 / 2 - 2021: 1 / 1 - 2022: 2 / 2 - 2023: 1 / 1 - 2024: 2 / 2 ## Defining events in these cases - [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 4 cases - [Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242): 4 cases - [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 3 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 3 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 2 cases - [Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070): 2 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases - [External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480): 1 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 1 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-ec-135-p2-plus): 3 cases - [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1): 2 cases - [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2): 1 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-mariner): 1 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 1 cases - [Hughes TH-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55): 1 cases - [Hughes Helicopters 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-369e): 1 cases - [Enstrom F-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/enstrom-f-28c): 1 cases - [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e): 1 cases - [Bell 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 7 cases - [Debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055) (Environmental issues): 3 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 3 cases - [Scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430) (Aircraft): 2 cases - [Main rotor system, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046200) (Aircraft): 2 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN25LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA013), Oct 11, 2024: Rotorway Exec (N314AC), Plymouth, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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), Jul 13, 2024: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N473E), Cottonwood, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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… - [NTSB CEN23LA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA385), Aug 27, 2023: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206 (N19BH), Hibbing, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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… - [NTSB CEN22LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA328), Jul 20, 2022: Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 (N228MT), Mount Vernon, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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), Jun 18, 2022: Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+ (N226SA), Waukesha, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB ERA21LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA357), Sep 8, 2021: Enstrom F28 (N51789), Toughkenamon, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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), Jul 29, 2020: American Eurocopter AS350 (N755AE), Pioche, NV, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: 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 WPR20LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA130), Apr 24, 2020: Bell UH 1H (N3276T), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: 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.… - [NTSB GAA18CA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA117), Feb 1, 2018: Hughes Helicopters 369 (N618SG), Wrightwood, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s high altitude, high gross weight landing with insufficient tail rotor thrust resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. - [NTSB ERA16CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA160), Apr 16, 2016: Bell 206 (N326AC), Baltimore, MD, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind while hovering out of ground effect, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. 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.