# NTSB LAX05TA306: Bell 407, N702WP, Inyokern, CA, September 21, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: September 21, 2005, 10:07 local (17:07 UTC) - Place: Inyokern, CA - Coordinates: 35.771389, -117.913055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7714&lon=-117.9131&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62516 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05TA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62516/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05TA306 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain tail rotor clearance from obstacles during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - rotor system,tail rotor blade - blade strike - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The helicopter's tail rotor struck a rock outcropping during a confined landing at a remote mountain site. The pilot was moving two surveyors up the side of the southern slope of a mountain canyon. He dropped the surveyors off at a small saddle on a ridge, and departed to locate the next site upslope. He found a rocky outcropping that he thought would be a good landing site, and made one approach, but did not like the location due to uneven terrain. He then hovered over to another site a few yards away and proceeded to land. During the landing the tail rotor made contact with a small rock outcropping. Feeling the contact he proceeded to execute a successful autorotative landing from a hover. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 2005, about 1007 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 407, N702WP, tail rotor struck a rock outcropping during a confined area landing 8.6 miles northwest of the Inyokern Airport, Inyokern, California. Los Angeles City Department of Water and Power operated the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot was not injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was in effect. The public-use flight originated at Hokinson Heliport, Sylmar, California, at 0630. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120 1/2) that he was moving two surveyors up the side of the southern slope of a mountain canyon. He dropped the surveyors off at a small saddle on a ridge and departed to locate the next site upslope. He found a rocky outcropping that he thought would be a good landing site, and made one approach, but did not like the location due to uneven terrain. He then hovered over to another site a few yards away and proceeded to land. During the landing the tail rotor made contact with a small rock outcropping. Feeling the contact he proceeded to execute a successful autorotative landing from a hover. ## Aircraft - Registration: N702WP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell 407 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 53543 - Airframe hours: 1498.1 - Engines: Rolls-Royce C-47B 674 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - local, Part 91 - Registered owner: Los Angeles City Water and Power - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2005, 19 hours before - Departed: KVNY, Van Nuys, CA - Destination: KIKY, Inyokern, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KIYK, Inyokern ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 15,800 total, 800 in this make and model, 13,600 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KNID, 12 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 20050921023489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050921023489A), Sep 21, 2005: Bell 407, Inyo-Kern, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was transporting a l.a. dept. Of water & power survey crew north west of the Inyo-Kern airport area. Pilot dropped off survey crew and was in the… 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.