# Rotorcraft flight control

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft propeller/rotor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0104) › Rotorcraft flight control
- NTSB code: 010467
- Cases: 56
- In the probable cause: 53
- Fatal cases: 12
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010467/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010467/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010467

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

- 2008: 12 / 13
- 2009: 2 / 2
- 2010: 1 / 1
- 2011: 3 / 3
- 2012: 3 / 3
- 2013: 0 / 1
- 2014: 0 / 1
- 2015: 9 / 9
- 2016: 5 / 5
- 2017: 4 / 4
- 2018: 2 / 2
- 2019: 2 / 2
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2021: 1 / 1
- 2022: 3 / 3
- 2023: 2 / 2
- 2024: 2 / 2

## Findings

- [Main rotor control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046710): 28 cases, 27 in the probable cause
- [Tail rotor control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720): 13 cases, 13 in the probable cause
- [Rotorcraft flight control, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046700): 9 cases, 8 in the probable cause
- [Rotorcraft servo system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046730): 6 cases, 5 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 16 cases
- [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 12 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 8 cases
- [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 6 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 3 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases
- [Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231): 2 cases
- [External load event (Rotorcraft)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/480): 1 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 1 cases
- [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 5 cases
- [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b): 4 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 3 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 3 cases
- [Hughes 369A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369a): 2 cases
- [Williams Helicopter UH-1H](https://openairdocs.org/model/williams-helicopter-uh-1h): 1 cases
- [Eurocopter France AS350B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-france-as350b2): 1 cases
- [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2): 1 cases
- [Aerospatiale AS 355F1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-355f1): 1 cases
- [Aerospatiale SA315B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa315b): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 16 cases
- [Prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052) (Aircraft): 8 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 7 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 6 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 4 cases
- [Scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024) (Aircraft): 4 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 4 cases
- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 3 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN24FA248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA248), Jul 5, 2024: Rotorway Scorpion 133 (N51017), Andale, KS, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s abrupt control inputs, which resulted in a low-G condition, main rotor mast bumping, and subsequent severing of the tailboom by the main rotor blades.
- [NTSB WPR24LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA134), Apr 23, 2024: Bell 206L-3 (N17592), Tracy, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of collective control authority due to fatigue failure of the collective servo cylinder extension arms from corrosion pitting.
- [NTSB CEN23LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA199), May 23, 2023: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 (N451PH), Abbeville, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain proper helicopter control during autorotation that resulted in an abnormal ground contact which caused the subsequent main rotor strike on the tail boom that severed…
- [NTSB CEN23FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA183), May 14, 2023: Robinson R22 Beta (N40506), Brady, TX, incident, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-certificated pilot’s failure to ensure the collective friction control was adequately engaged during an on-ground engine run, which resulted in the helicopter inadvertently becoming airborne.…
- [NTSB ERA23FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA070), Nov 22, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N7094J), Charlotte, NC, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The inadequate inspections of the forward left control rod end attachment hardware to the stationary swashplate by the pilot and by maintenance personnel, resulting in an eventual loosening and…
- [NTSB CEN22LA430](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA430), Sep 24, 2022: Agusta AW139 (N811TA), Houma, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inflight loss of collective control of the helicopter due to thermal damage of a collective control torque tube that abraded with misrouted electrical wiring, which resulted in an electrical…
- [NTSB WPR22LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA146), Apr 7, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N19VH), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while on the ground when his attention was diverted, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB CEN22LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA009), Oct 6, 2021: Bell 206 (N373SP), Gonzales, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to compensate for an unanticipated right yaw, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and helicopter control.
- [NTSB WPR21LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA039), Nov 6, 2020: Agusta A109 (N109EX), Los Angeles, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of tail rotor control due to the separation of the tail rotor duplex bearing ring nut from the thrust sleeve, which resulted in the loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB WPR20LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA211), Jul 7, 2020: Bell UH1H (N623PB), Payson, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A flight control malfunction due to either a hydraulic hardover or a flight control stiffness event, which resulted in a loss of control.

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.

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