# NTSB investigations: Main rotor control 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 CEN24FA248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA248.md): Rotorway Scorpion 133 · Andale, KS · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 5, 2024 · N51017 · Destroyed > 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.md): Bell 206L-3 · Tracy, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 23, 2024 · N17592 · Substantial damage > 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.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 · Abbeville, LA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 23, 2023 · N451PH · Substantial damage > 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 the tail rotor driveshaft. Contributing to the accident was… - [NTSB CEN23FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA183.md): Robinson R22 Beta · Brady, TX · Incident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 14, 2023 · N40506 · Substantial damage > 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. Contributing to the crash were the pilot’s various physical… - [NTSB ERA23FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA070.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Charlotte, NC · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 22, 2022 · N7094J · Substantial damage > 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 backing out of the hardware and subsequent loss of helicopter… - [NTSB CEN22LA430](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA430.md): Agusta AW139 · Houma, LA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 24, 2022 · N811TA · Substantial damage > 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 short and inflight fire. Contributing to the accident were the… - [NTSB CEN20LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA037.md): Robinson R22 · Beeville, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 19, 2019 · N695AP · Substantial damage > The solo student pilot's improper cyclic input during takeoff, which resulted in dynamic rollover. - [NTSB ERA19FA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA034.md): Autogyro Cavalon · Sebring, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 30, 2018 · N198LT · Destroyed > The pilot's improper decision to operate the gyroplane in an unairworthy condition, which resulted in the cyclic pitch control disconnecting in flight. Contributing was the pilot's inability to maintain control of the helicopter utilizing the published… - [NTSB GAA18CA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA086.md): Halley KFT Apollo · North Las Vegas, NV · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 17, 2017 · N15LU · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to stop the main rotor rotation before taxiing the gyroplane in gusting wind conditions, resulting in the main rotor striking the empennage. - [NTSB WPR18LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA004.md): Western International Avia UH 1H · Arbuckle, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 13, 2017 · N247PV · Substantial damage > A collective control malfunction for reasons that could not be determined. - [NTSB GAA17CA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA258.md): Autogyro Calidus · Stevensville, MD · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 4, 2017 · N991TC · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper takeoff procedure, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff. - [NTSB GAA17CA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA218.md): Bell 206 · La Verne, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 6, 2017 · N206SA · Substantial damage > The pilot’s early increased application of the collective during a simulated hovering autorotation, which resulted in a loss of rotor rpm and subsequent main rotor blade strike of the tailboom. - [NTSB ERA16FA248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA248.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 · Hickory, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2016 · N427TV · Substantial damage > Company maintenance personnel's inappropriate removal without replacement of the safety wires on the collective lever pin screws during a recent maintenance inspection, which resulted in the screws backing out and led to a loss of collective control in flight. - [NTSB WPR16LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA099.md): Bell 47G 5 · San Ardo, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 29, 2016 · N6288N · Substantial damage > The failure of the pin in the outboard end of the lateral flight control torque tube. - [NTSB GAA16CA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA163.md): Enstrom F280 · Sodus, NY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 26, 2016 · N5698Y · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper collective application at touchdown during a practice run-on landing, which resulted in the main rotor system impacting the tailboom and the forward portion of the fuselage impacting terrain during remedial action by the flight… - [NTSB GAA15LA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15LA296.md): Bell 206 · Ozark, AL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 24, 2015 · N49660 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while hovering, which resulted in the helicopter's skid impacting terrain, subsequent abnormal airframe vibrations, and a hard landing during the subsequent hovering autorotation. - [NTSB GAA15CA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA258.md): Airbus AS350 · Draper, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 9, 2015 · N253HP · Substantial damage > The ground recovery team member's failure to secure a rescue rope during the helicopter loading process in steep terrain, resulting in the rope fouling the helicopter's main rotor system. - [NTSB GAA15CA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA181.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Caldwell, ID · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 13, 2015 · N184SH · Substantial damage > Abnormal ground contact during a 180 degree autorotation, resulting in a severed tail rotor driveshaft by a main rotor blade. A factor contributing to the accident was the rotor blowback condition due to the aft tilting of the main rotor disk. - [NTSB ANC15LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA076.md): Airbus AS-350 · Hamilton, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 4, 2015 · N504WD · Substantial damage > The pilot's excessive collective application during an autorotation. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the training flight. - [NTSB CEN15LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA131.md): Bell-Watson 47 G · North Little Rock, AR · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 29, 2015 · N43762 · Substantial damage > The flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during the practice touchdown autorotation, which resulted in a subsequent loss of helicopter control and impact with terrain. - [NTSB CEN13CA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA027.md): Aerospatiale SA315B · Helena, OK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 19, 2012 · N57948 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to properly secure the cyclic and to stop the main rotor system before exiting the helicopter, which resulted in the main rotor blades striking the tail rotor driveshaft. - [NTSB CEN11LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA200.md): Hughes 369D · Henryetta, OK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 23, 2011 · N112AS · Substantial damage > Failure of the cyclic control system for reasons undetermined. - [NTSB CEN10IA397](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10IA397.md): Bell 206 · Gulf of Mexico, LA · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Jul 12, 2010 · N523RL · Minor damage > Improper reassembly of the collective flight controls by maintenance personnel. Contributing to the incident were inadequate postmaintenance examinations by maintenance personnel and inadequate preflight inspections by two pilots. - [NTSB WPR09FA459](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA459.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Forest Grove, OR · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 20, 2009 · N956SH · Substantial damage > The flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed while maneuvering, which resulted in a main rotor blade stall and an uncontrolled descent into terrain. - [NTSB WPR09LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA261.md): Enstrom Helicopter 280C · Ogden, UT · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 25, 2009 · N5699N · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper use of the helicopter's collective both during the takeoff sequence and while attempting remedial action in response to an engine over-boost condition, which resulted in a hard precautionary landing. - [NTSB WPR09LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA028.md): Hiller UH-12E · Powder River, WY · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 30, 2008 · N61436 · Substantial damage > A flight control system malfunction while the helicopter was maneuvering at low altitude due to the failure/separation of the rotor blade control tube. - [NTSB CHI08TA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08TA239.md): Eurocopter AS-350-B3 · Mount Clemens, MI · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Aug 2, 2008 · N204TU · Substantial damage > The pilot's unintentional lowering of the collective control during approach to land, resulting in a hard landing. - [NTSB DFW08TA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08TA092.md): Robinson R44 · Topeka, KS · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Apr 5, 2008 · N402PD · Substantial damage > A malfunctioning magneto, resulting in a high engine rpm and low rotor warning indications. A contributing factor was the impact with a light pole, during the precautionary landing. ## 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", '01046710')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046710/cases --- 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.