# NTSB CEN22LA078: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, N862YB, Bridgeport, TX, December 14, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 14, 2021, 13:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Bridgeport, TX - Coordinates: 33.1739, -97.8284 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1739&lon=-97.8284&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104415/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104415 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper placement of the throttle during the initial practice power-on recovery autorotation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he elected to practice a couple power recovery autorotations before landing at his destination. The first autorotation was uneventful. During the second autorotation he decreased the throttle to what he thought was the idle position. Shortly thereafter, he received an “engine out” audio warning. He glanced at the throttle position on the collective and observed that he accidentally had the throttle in the off position instead of the idle position. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but with the ground quickly approaching, he elected to perform an engine out autorotation to the ground. He flared about 35 feet above the ground. About 7 feet above the ground, the main rotor RPM became too slow, and the helicopter dropped to the ground. The rear skids impacted hard; the helicopter rocked forward then came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage, tail boom, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N862YB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N862YB), registered now, S/N 54837, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-407) (registry code 1182154) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C47E/4](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c47e-4) (registry code 54236, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 54837 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 293 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C47F/4 700 hp turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Oregon Airbus LLC - Registered owner: Oregon Airbus LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 2021, 293 hours before - Departed: AFW, Fort Worth, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: XBP, Bridgeport Municipal Airport, runway 18, 5,005 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 5, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,596 total, 196 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KXBP - METAR: KXBP 141955Z AUTO 21009G16KT 10SM SCT032 24/15 A3010 RMK AO2 T02370150 ## 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 20211214021079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211214021079A), Dec 14, 2021: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, Bridgeport, TX, Destroyed. On December 14, 2021, at approximately 1330 central daylight time, a Bell 407, N862YB, left alliance airport headed to Bridgeport airport for a one hour flight… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104415. 10.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 8.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13131158&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - On scene photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13131470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=oN%20SCENE%20PHOTOS-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. --- 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.