# NTSB GAA15CA002: Bell 407, N41BH, Justin, TX, March 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 5, 2015, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Justin, TX - Coordinates: 33.049446, -97.292778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0494&lon=-97.2928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90837 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90837/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90837 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA002 ## Probable cause Abnormal ground contact during an autorotation demonstration, resulting in a severed tailrotor driveshaft. ## 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 · Instructor/check 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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 407, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter instructor was demonstrating a full down 180 degree auto rotation. He reported that everything was done normally and as he flared to slow the aircraft down, the tail skid lightly bumped the ground a couple of times. The skids eventually made contact with the ground and the helicopter slid about 20 feet to a stop. A post landing examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blade had contacted the tailboom, severing the tailrotor drive shaft. ## Factual narrative The helicopter instructor was demonstrating a full down 180 degree auto rotation. He reported that everything was done normally and as he flared to slow the aircraft down, the tail skid lightly bumped the ground a couple of times. The skids eventually made contact with the ground and the helicopter slid about 20 feet to a stop. A post landing examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blade had contacted the tailboom, severing the tailrotor drive shaft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41BH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41BH-2019-09-13), registration cancelled 2019-09-13, S/N 53183, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 407 (NO SERIES) - 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: 53183 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 4905 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C47B 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. - Registered owner: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, January 29, 2015 - Departed: KAFW, Fort Worth, TX - Destination: KAFW, Fort Worth, TX - Airport: KAFW, Fort Worth Alliance Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 18, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,962 total, 1,280 in this make and model, 4,929 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: none; foreign; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: right; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.59 inHg - Observed at: KASW, 4 nm away ## 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 20150305002659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150305002659A), Mar 5, 2015: Bell 407, Justin, TX, Substantial damage. On March 5, 2015, at 1530 CST, a Bell helicopter, N41BH, owned by Bell helicopter Textron, inc., 3255 Bell helicopter blvd., fort worth, TX 76118, had an… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90837. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425577&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Tail Rotor Boom and Damaged Trail Rotor Drive Shaft (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 785 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425579&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Tail%20Rotor%20Boom%20and%20Damaged%20Trail%20Rotor%20Drive%20Shaft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.