# NTSB CEN09CA604: Bell 407, N6040Y, Fort Worth, TX, September 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 23, 2009, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 33.04861, -97.294998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0486&lon=-97.2950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA604 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74800/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74800 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA604 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to maintain control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 407, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was demonstrating a landing using the manual Full-Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) mode. While on short final, approximately 3 to 5 feet above ground level, the helicopter quickly descended right and forward. Suspecting wind shear, the flight instructor applied corrective controls but was unable to reverse the downward motion prior to ground contact. The helicopter's left rear skid, then right rear skid, contacted the ground before the flight instructor could bring the helicopter back to a hover. A postflight examination of the helicopter revealed damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail boom. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor was demonstrating a landing using the manual Full-Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) mode. While on short final, approximately 3 to 5 feet above ground level, the helicopter quickly descended right and forward. Suspecting wind shear, the flight instructor applied corrective controls, but was unable to reverse the downward motion prior to ground contact. The helicopter's left rear skid contacted the ground followed by the right rear skid before the flight instructor could bring the helicopter back to a hover. A post-flight examination of the helicopter revealed damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail boom. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6040Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6040Y), registered now, S/N 53371, built 1999 (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: 53371 - Airframe hours: 5206 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C47B 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bell Helicopter Textron - Registered owner: Textron Financial Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 20, 2009, 56 hours before - Departed: KAFW, FORT WORTH, TX - Destination: FORT WORTH, TX - Airport: KAFW, Fort Worth Alliance ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 6, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 23,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 22,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 4,550 total, 150 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: AFW, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090923017739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090923017739A), Sep 23, 2009: Bell 407, Alliance, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The flight instructor was operating the controls of the helicopter while demonstrating a simulated fadec emergency proedure, with the fadec control… ## Other investigations on N6040Y (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN17LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA188), Jan 24, 2017: Bell 407 (N6040Y), Fort Worth, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to prevent the engine/rotor overspeed condition during the demonstration maneuver and the excessive descent rate during the emergency landing, which resulted in a hard… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74800. 682 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 682 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320841&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.