Pilot Debrief

BELL 407 near Chesterfield, VA — 2023-11-16

Final reportERA24LA045
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Date
2023-11-16
Location
Chesterfield, VA, USA
Airport
FCI
Aircraft
BELL 407
Registration
N26VA
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A hard landing, which resulted in a main rotor strike of the left vertical stablizer.

NTSB narrative

The night training flight was conducted using night vision goggles, and a crew change was conducted while helicopter continued to operate. The maneuvers conducted included hovering, straight-in and 180° autorotations to touchdown, hydraulics off flight, and stuck-pedal flight to touchdown. The flight instructor and the two pilots described the maneuvers as smooth and controlled with no hard landings. A post-flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the left vertical stabilizer, and “rub marks and scratches” on the underside of each main rotor blade consistent with main rotor contact. A main rotor strike of the vertical fin likely occurred during a hard landing at the termination of an autoration, but the investigation was unable to determine the specific training event during which the main rotor strike occurred.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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