# NTSB CEN25LA380: Bell 407, N407WA, Decatur, TX, September 16, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 15, 2025, 21:15 local (Sep 16, 2025, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Decatur, TX - Coordinates: 33.254167, -97.580556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2542&lon=-97.5806&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, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 2025 - 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): 201008 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA380 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201008/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201008 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA380 ## Probable cause The instructor candidate’s erroneous operation of the throttle during an autorotation from altitude with power recovery, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [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 operator reported that a hard landing occurred during a night training flight that was conducted for a newly hired helicopter pilot and a company flight instructor candidate. The training was being conducted by the flight instructor candidate while both pilots were being observed by a company flight instructor from the right rear seat. After conducting numerous other training events during the flight, the flight instructor announced to the pilot-under-instruction that the next event was going to be a straight in autorotation from altitude with a power recovery. The instructor then briefed the pilot-under-instruction on how the maneuver was to be conducted. During the descent the pilot-under-instruction initiated deceleration using aft cyclic. The instructor began increasing the throttle to the maximum position. However, the instructor noticed that the rpm was about 95% and he believed the engine had not responded appropriately. He then responded by moving the throttle towards the idle position. Recognizing his mistake, he then attempted to correct by increasing the throttle back to maximum power. After this he focused his attention outside the cockpit due to the low altitude. Shortly after the pilot-under-instruction recalled hearing the instructor say something to the effect, it’s not recoverable, prepare for impact. He attempted to arrest the decent before impact but was unsuccessful. The helicopter subsequently impacted the runway and came to rest on the lower fuselage which resulted in 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: [N407WA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N407WA), registered now, S/N 53222, 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: [Allison 250-C47 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c47-series) (registry code 03029, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 53222 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 11949.6 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C47B 674 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Med-Trans Corp - Registered owner: Med-Trans Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 15, 2025 - Departed: KDTO, Denton, TX - Destination: KLUD, Decatur, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: LUD, Decatur Municipal Airport, runway 17, 4,200 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 51; injuries: minor; military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,690 total, 400 in this make and model, 2,490 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; military, commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 21,331 total, 6 in this make and model, 2,151 as pilot in command - Check pilot; injuries: none; military, commercial; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,400 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KLUD - METAR: METAR KLUD 160215Z AUTO 12004KT 7SM CLR 27/16 A3006 RMK AO2 T02650160= ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201008. 13.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19422917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA380%20-%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19440545&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA380%20-%20OCCUPANT%20STATEMENTS_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19422679&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA380%20-%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.