# NTSB GAA17CA390: Bell 407, N650HP, Topeka, KS, July 7, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 7, 2017, 00:34 local (05:34 UTC) - Place: Topeka, KS - Coordinates: 39.069168, -95.628051 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0692&lon=-95.6281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95516 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA390 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95516/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95516 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA390 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a building during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the helicopter reported that, during a hover taxi while using night vision goggles, he "pedal turned facing the west to line up with [the] landing lines painted on the ramp." He added that he looked under his goggles and observed the right painted mark under the right skid and noted that he estimated that the helicopter was about 6 ft above the ground. He then looked back through his goggles to land the helicopter. The tactical field officer that was on board the helicopter advised the pilot that they needed to move forward. The pilot further reported that he "tried to move forward but nothing happened at which time [he] felt a sudden jolt and then [heard] the noise of the tail rotor strike." The helicopter struck a building and then impacted the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the helicopter reported that, during a hover taxi under night vision goggles, he "pedal turned facing the west to line up with [the] landing lines painted on the ramp". He added that, he looked under his goggles and observed the right painted mark under the right skid, and noted that he estimated that they were about 6 ft above the ground. He then looked back into his goggles to land the helicopter. The tactical field officer that was on board the helicopter advised the pilot that they needed to move forward. The pilot further reported that he "tried to move forward but nothing happened at which time [he] felt a sudden jolt and then [heard] the noise of the tail rotor strike". The helicopter impacted a building then impacted the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N650HP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL 407 (NO SERIES) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 53665 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 2752 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C47B 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: Kansas Highway Patrol - Registered owner: Kansas Highway Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 15, 2017 - Departed: TOP, Topeka, KS - Destination: TOP, Topeka, KS - Airport: TOP, Philip Billard Muni - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,295 total, 271 in this make and model, 1,034 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KTOP ## 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 20170707015359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170707015359A), Jul 7, 2017: Bell 407, Topeka, KS, Substantial damage. Approx. 0032 hrs. - wind was 030 light and variable, with approach made from the southwest over the corn field into the khp facility under night vision… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95516. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 503 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458864&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.