# NTSB investigations: Tail rotor, general

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 CEN09CA394](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA394.md): Sidler Mike Rotorway · Waxahachie, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 27, 2009 · N1934 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to control his rate of descent during autorotation, which required an aggressive recovery maneuver and resulted in a sudden loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB SEA08CA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA124.md): Bell 206B · Murietta, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 27, 2008 · N526DL · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action. A contributing factor to the accident was the dual student's improper flare.

## 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", '01046400'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046400/cases

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