# NTSB ERA21LA264: Bell 407, N512TP, Tampa, FL, June 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 21, 2021, 21:45 local (Jun 22, 2021, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Tampa, FL · on airport - Coordinates: 28.014049, -82.345625 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0140&lon=-82.3456&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103315 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103315/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103315 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA264 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare while making a power off practice autorotative landing. Contributing was the decreased visual cues provided by the recently paved runway during the night landing conducted with the aid of night vision goggles. ## 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 (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) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (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) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/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: 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 pilot and flight instructor were practicing straight-in, full touch down power off landings (autorotations) in the helicopter at night, with the aid of night vision goggles (NVGs). The pilot determined where on the runway he was going to land and entered the autorotation at an approximate airspeed of 60 knots. When the helicopter was about 90 to 100 ft above the ground, and the engine rpm was at 99-100%, he entered the flare. At the bottom of the flare, the pilot “bumped” up the collective to arrest the rate of descent and leveled out at what he thought was about 7-10 ft above the runway. At that point, the pilot said it felt like the bottom of the helicopter started to fall out from underneath him. He added more collective to arrest the sink rate, but it had no impact on stopping the vertical sink rate. The low rotor rpm horn sounded right before the helicopter landed hard on the runway. The impact was sufficient to flex the main rotor blades and sever the tail boom. The main rotor blades were also substantially damaged. . The operator reported there were no mechanical deficiencies of the helicopter that contributed to the accident. The runway had been recently paved and was very dark in color. The pilot had conducted “hundreds” of NVG power off landings to this runway in the past, but this was his first time after the runway had been re-paved. This was the flight instructor’s first time executing a practice NVG power off landing to this runway. As such, the visual cues that the pilot was used to experiencing had changed, and most likely affected his ability to judge the helicopter’s height and speed above the ground, which resulted in a higher-than-normal flair, low rotor rpm, and subsequent hard landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N512TP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N512TP), registered now, S/N 53546, built 2002 (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: 53546 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 9643 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-647B 650 hp turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: City Of Tampa - Registered owner: City Of Tampa - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 28, 2021, 34 hours before - Departed: TPA, Tampa, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: VDF, Tampa Exec, runway 05/23, 5,000 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 27, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,721 total, 1,472 in this make and model, 2,412 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 31; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,047 total, 112 in this make and model, 1,909 as pilot in command, 124 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: VDF - METAR: KVDF 211215Z AUTO 17004KT 27/26 A3009 RMK AO2 PWINO ## 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 20210621008079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210621008079A), Jun 21, 2021: Bell 407, Tampa, FL, Substantial damage. On June 21, 2021, at 2145 EST, N512TP, a 2002 Bell 407[privacy data omitted] was conducting straight in full touchdown auto rotations at Tampa executive… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103315. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12558521&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot and instructor's written statements (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 376 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12697787&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Instructor%20Written%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12558936&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. --- 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.