Summary
On September 21, 2005, a Bell 407 (N702WP) was involved in an incident near Inyokern, CA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot failed to maintain tail rotor clearance from obstacles during landing.
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.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX05TA306. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N702WP.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot failed to maintain tail rotor clearance from obstacles during landing.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX05TA306