# Tail rotor control system

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft propeller/rotor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0104) › [Rotorcraft flight control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010467) › Tail rotor control system
- NTSB code: 01046720
- Cases: 13
- In the probable cause: 13
- Fatal cases: 1
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720

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

- 2008: 4 / 4
- 2011: 1 / 1
- 2015: 3 / 3
- 2016: 1 / 1
- 2018: 1 / 1
- 2019: 1 / 1
- 2020: 1 / 1
- 2021: 1 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 5 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 5 cases
- [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 1 cases
- [Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242): 1 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Hughes 369A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369a): 2 cases
- [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b): 2 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 1 cases
- [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b): 1 cases
- [MD Helicopters MD 900](https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-md-900): 1 cases
- [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1): 1 cases
- [Seymour Robert M ROTORWAY 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/seymour-robert-m-rotorway-162f): 1 cases
- [Agusta A109S](https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-a109s): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Oversight of maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032020) (Organizational issues): 1 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510) (Personnel issues): 1 cases
- [Scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520) (Personnel issues): 1 cases
- [Post maintenance inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515) (Personnel issues): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [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 GAA19CA403](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA403), Jun 26, 2019: Md Helicopter 369 (N500SC), Summersville, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The copilot’s disabling of the flight controls of an operating helicopter without telling the pilot on the controls, which resulted in a subsequent loss of control and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN18LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA290), Jul 20, 2018: Bell 206 (N352CT), Todd Mission, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger’s inadvertent interference with the tail rotor pedals, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff and the subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA16LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA182), Apr 8, 2016: Hughes 369 (N298SD), Weatherford, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot/mechanic's inadequate postmaintenance and preflight inspections, which resulted in his failure to remove the antitorque pedal lock and a subsequent loss of control during hover operations.
- [NTSB GAA16CA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA075), Dec 9, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N4427H), West Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a horizontal rotation of the helicopter, and abnormal runway contact.
- [NTSB ERA15LA374](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA374), Sep 20, 2015: Bell 206 (N165BH), Thomaston, GA, destroyed. Probable cause: The loss of tail rotor control due to a fractured pin in the tail rotor control system; the reason the pin fractured could not be determined as the fractured pin was lost in shipping.
- [NTSB ANC15LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA015), Mar 13, 2015: Airbus AS350 B2 (N814EH), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the ball bearing within the pitch change spider assembly due to its operation with no grease within the bearing, which resulted in the subsequent fracture of the spider assembly and a…
- [NTSB CEN11WA412](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11WA412), Jun 19, 2011: McDonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (G-KSWI), Glastonbury, United Kingdom, substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR09LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA069), Dec 28, 2008: Hughes 369 (N104BN), Honiara, Solomon Islands, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove the tail rotor pedal lock before attempting flight, resulting 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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