# NTSB CEN21LA456: Bell 407, N662RL, Patterson, LA, September 25, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 25, 2021, 06:55 local (11:55 UTC)
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Coordinates: 29.709043, -91.335891 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7090&lon=-91.3359&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-into takeoff position: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA456
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103974/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103974
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA456

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a parked helicopter while hovering to reposition for takeoff.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi-into takeoff position: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While hovering from the helicopter pad to reposition for takeoff, the pilot backed up the helicopter. During a pedal turn, the tail rotor contacted another helicopter’s main rotor blades, which was parked and located behind on another pad. The pilot reported she felt a strong jolt to the left, and the helicopter began to spin. The pilot lowered the collective, reduced throttle, and the helicopter came to rest upright adjacent to the helicopter pad. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N662RL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N662RL), registered now, S/N 53203, built 1997 (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: 53203
- Year built: 1997
- Airframe hours: 25222
- Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C30 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC, doing business as Rlc, LLC
- Registered owner: Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 24, 2021
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: PTN, Harry P Williams Meml
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,479 total, 255 in this make and model, 1,479 as pilot in command, 142 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 0.25 statute miles
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KPTN, 1 nm away
- METAR: KPTN 251201Z AUTO 00000KT 1 1/4SM BR FEW002 14/14 A3011 RMK AO2 VIS 1/4V5 $

## 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 20210925013101A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210925013101A), Sep 25, 2021: Bell 407, Patterson, LA, Substantial damage. Fog in the area caused the windscreen to be in need of clearing. Airman departed with poor visibility through the windscreen. This caused her to unknowingly…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103974. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12786612&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N662RL%20-%20NTSB%20Report%20Copy_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12787353&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N662RL%20Pilot%20Marlana%20Adkins%20-%20Typed%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 533 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12789651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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