NTSB investigations: Bell 407, TX

15 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell 407. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20002026
NTSB investigations: Bell 407, TX per year, 2000–2026: 15 cases
20001
20031
20042
20081
20092
20101
20121
20152
20171
20201
20251
20261

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'TX' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1182206'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB CEN26LA185Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Dallas, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness and clearance from the helipad surveillance camera during liftoff.May 13, 2026 · N652AE · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA380Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Decatur, TXThe instructor candidate’s erroneous operation of the throttle during an autorotation from altitude with power recovery, which resulted in a hard landing.Sep 16, 2025 · N407WA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA395Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportBell 407 · Fort Worth, TXThe flight instructor’s delay in rolling the throttle to the fly position during a practice autorotation maneuver that resulted in a hard landing.Sep 15, 2020 · N489DM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17LA188Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Fort Worth, TXThe flight instructor's failure to prevent the engine/rotor overspeed condition during the demonstration maneuver and the excessive descent rate during the emergency landing, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the engine/rotor overspeed…Jan 24, 2017 · N6040Y · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16LA027Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · San Antonio, TXThe failure of the No. 3 tail rotor adapter and shaft due to a loss of torque on the retaining nut. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a requirement to inspect the tail rotor assembly for security in the helicopter manufacturer's maintenance manual…Nov 3, 2015 · N496AE · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA002Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 407 · Justin, TXAbnormal ground contact during an autorotation demonstration, resulting in a severed tailrotor driveshaft.Mar 5, 2015 · N41BH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12IA518Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBell 407 · San Antonio, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tower guy wire during the approach to a helipad at night.Aug 5, 2012 · N429PH · Minor damageNTSB OPS10IA132Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-7H4 · Houston, TXThe failure of the local controller to issue control instructions necessary to ensure positive control/standard separation of traffic operating within the Class B airspace.Apr 28, 2010 · N242WN · 2 aircraft · No damageNTSB CEN09CA604Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 407 · Fort Worth, TXFailure of the pilot to maintain control during landing.Sep 23, 2009 · N6040Y · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09CA203Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 407 · Lancaster, TXThe failure of the pilot to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and the failure of the CFI to provide appropriate instruction during the maneuver.Feb 27, 2009 · N2592T · Substantial damageNTSB DEN08FA101Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Huntsville, TXThe pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent, which resulted in its impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the limited outside visual reference due to the dark night conditions.Jun 8, 2008 · N416PH · DestroyedNTSB FTW04LA117Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Hurst, TXThe student pilot's excessive flare prior to touchdown during the practice autorotation which resulted in the tailboom stinger striking the ground. A contributing factor was the flight instructor's delay to take remedial action.Apr 27, 2004 · N407BP · Substantial damageNTSB FTW04FA097Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Pyote, TXThe pilot's inadvertent encounter with adverse weather, which resulted in the pilot failing to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions, the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and planning, and the pressure to…Mar 21, 2004 · N502MT · DestroyedNTSB FTW03FA118Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Broadus, TXThe partial loss of engine power due to erratic fuel flow metering to the engine resulting from the single point failure of the PLA potentiometer in the hydro-mechanical fuel control unit. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain to execute a…Mar 27, 2003 · N175PA · DestroyedNTSB FTW01FA043Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Gilchrist, TXThe loss of control for reasons undetermined.Dec 29, 2000 · N407MM · Destroyed