# NTSB CEN09CA203: Bell 407, N2592T, Lancaster, TX, February 27, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 27, 2009, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Lancaster, TX
- Coordinates: 32.579166, -96.718887 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5792&lon=-96.7189&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73478
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73478/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73478
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA203

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and the failure of the CFI to provide appropriate instruction during the maneuver.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): issuing instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Bell 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Bell 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 407, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot was practicing a forced landing with a certified flight instructor (CFI) providing instruction. After the maneuver was initiated, the CFI recognized the helicopter was not settling quickly enough so he limited the amount of collective the commercial pilot could apply. As the helicopter slowed, the main rotor revolutions per minute (rpm) slowed. After the rear of the skids touched down the main rotor rpm continued to decay, and the front of the skids dropped eight to 10 inches onto the runway. During the landing two main rotor blades contacted both auxiliary fins on the tail boom. Examination of the damaged main rotor blades revealed substantial damage due to delamination and inner core damage on both blades.

## Factual narrative

The commercial pilot was practicing a forced landing with a certified flight instructor (CFI) providing instruction. After the maneuver was initiated, the CFI recognized the helicopter was not settling quickly enough so he limited the amount of collective the commercial pilot could apply. As the helicopter slowed, the main rotor revolutions per minute (rpm) slowed. After the rear of the skids touched down the main rotor rpm continued to decay, and the front of the skids dropped eight to 10 inches onto the runway. During the landing two main rotor blades contacted both auxiliary fins on the tail boom. Examination of the damaged main rotor blades revealed substantial damage due to delamination and inner core damage on both blades.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2592T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2592T), registered now, S/N 53748, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Registry model: [Bell 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (registry code 1182206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C47B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c47b) (registry code 54585, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 53748
- Airframe hours: 937
- Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C47B 814 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: City Of Dallas, doing business as Dallas Police Department
- Registered owner: City Of Dallas
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 6, 2009
- Departed: RBD, Dallas Exec Air, TX
- Destination: RBD, Dallas Exec Air, TX
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: KLNC, Lancaster Airport, runway 31, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 53; injuries: none; flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 7, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 4,056 total, 300 in this make and model, 3,975 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days
- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 31, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 420 total, 20 in this make and model, 291 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Observed at: RBD, 10 nm away

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73478. 487 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 487 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377170&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
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.