N6040Y

Substantial
None

BELL 407S/N: 53371

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
NTSB Number
CEN09CA604
Location
Fort Worth, TX
Event ID
20090925X05043
Coordinates
33.048610, -97.294998
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

Failure of the pilot to maintain control during landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BELL
Serial Number
53371
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1999
Model / ICAO
407B407
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
7
FAA Model
407

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
BELL TEXTRON INC
Address
3255 BELL FLIGHT BLVD
City
FORT WORTH
State / Zip Code
TX 76118-7630
Country
United States

Analysis

The flight instructor was demonstrating a landing using the manual Full-Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) mode. While on short final, approximately 3 to 5 feet above ground level, the helicopter quickly descended right and forward. Suspecting wind shear, the flight instructor applied corrective controls, but was unable to reverse the downward motion prior to ground contact. The helicopter's left rear skid contacted the ground followed by the right rear skid before the flight instructor could bring the helicopter back to a hover. A post-flight examination of the helicopter revealed damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail boom.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN09CA604