# NTSB ERA26LA170: Bell 407, N314JP, Jacksonville, FL, April 11, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 10, 2026, 20:22 local (Apr 11, 2026, 00:22 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, FL
- Coordinates: 30.337904, -81.514333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3379&lon=-81.5143&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 2026
- 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): 202820
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA170
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202820/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202820
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA170

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving the instruction.

## 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)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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 pilot and flight instructor were conducting a helicopter training flight using night vision goggles. The training included multiple hovering and straight-in touchdown autorotation maneuvers. The flight instructor stated that during the last touchdown autorotation landing the approach was normal. He continued that the pilot conducted a good deceleration flare but applied the initial collective too early resulting in rotor rpm decay. The helicopter landed hard on the heel of the skids while applying aft cyclic. The main rotor blades contacted both vertical stabilizers and the tailboom resulting in substantial damage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N314JP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N314JP), registered now, S/N 53587, built 2004 (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: 53587
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 6901
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C47B 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Public use
- Operator: City Of Jacksonville, doing business as Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
- Registered owner: City Of Jacksonville
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 6, 2026, 12 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CRG, Jacksonville Exec At Craig, runway 05, 4,004 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2026; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 644 total, 205 in this make and model, 455 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days
- Flight instructor; age 51; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,500 total, 350 in this make and model, 5,300 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KCRG 102353Z 05007KT 10SM OVC060 19/16 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP246 T01940161 10244 20194 53001

## 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 20260410004549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260410004549A), Apr 10, 2026: Bell 407, Jacksonville, FL, Substantial damage. While conducting emergency procedures training (practice autorotation’s) with a third-party contractor the pilot flying (pf) entered an autorotation to a hard…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202820. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 790 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20228231&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� flight instructor interview (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20304744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Instructor%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� pilot interview (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20354378&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20227614&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20_Redacted-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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