# NTSB CEN20LA068: Bell 407, N947LH, Minot, ND, January 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 22, 2020, 13:32 local (19:32 UTC) - Place: Minot, ND - Coordinates: 48.232223, -101.293334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2322&lon=-101.2933&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100876 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100876/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100876 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from fencing around the landing pad during landing, which resulted in the tail rotor contacting the fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 407, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a positioning flight to pick up a medical crew. As he neared the helipad, he performed a right 180° circling approach. After completing the turn, the pilot thought he was a little low on final approach, and "pulled in a little collective" as he leveled the helicopter, which contacted the landing pad "firmly." Before the subsequent departure, the pilot felt a vibration, and he shut down the helicopter to investigate. The crew walked toward the tail and noticed a slight bend in the lower vertical fin, the tips of both tail rotor blades missing, and the helipad safety fence missing a small section of the fence-edge pipe. Further examination of the helicopter identified cracks in the tail boom structure. A security camera video of the helipad showed that the helicopter's tail rotor impacted the fence during the landing. ## Factual narrative On January 22, 2019, about 1332 central standard time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N947LH, impacted a helipad perimeter fence during a landing near Minot, North Dakota. The pilot, sole occupant was not injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Executive Air Taxi Corp under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight. The pilot conducted a flight to the Trinity Medical Helipad (2ND4) to pick up the medical crew. The pilot stated he performed a right 180° circling approach to the helipad. As he finished the turn, he thought he was a little low on final approach and "pulled in a little collective." He applied more collective as he was leveling off and the "helicopter contacted the pad firmly." The pilot added that it was firmer than a normal landing, but he thought everything was okay until he noticed a small vibration. Before departing with the medical crew, the pilot still felt the vibration in the helicopter, so he shut the helicopter down to check. After shutdown, the crew walked toward the tail and noticed a slight bend in the lower vertical fin, the tips of both tail rotor blades missing, and the helipad safety fence was missing a small section of the fence-edge pipe. Additional examination of the helicopter identified cracks in the tailboom structure. A review of security camera video of the helipad showed the helicopter's tail rotor impact with the edge-fencing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N947LH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N947LH), registered now, S/N 53509, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 407 (No Series) - Registry model: [Bell 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (registry code 1182206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C47 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c47-series) (registry code 03029, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 53509 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 7601.9 - Engines: Allison 250-C47 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Executive Air Taxi Corp - Registered owner: Executive Air Taxi Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 26, 2019 - Departed: KMOT, Minot, ND - Destination: 2ND4, Minot, ND - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 2ND4, Trinity Health ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 18, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,340.7 total, 98 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KMOT, 2 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 20200122004599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200122004599A), Jan 22, 2020: Bell 407, Minot, ND, Substantial damage. Pilot was relocating aircraft from Minot airport to the hospital helipad to load medical equipment and staff for a air ambulance flight. On approach to the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100876. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 847 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pillot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481312&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pillot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.