Final None May 23, 2023

N451PH accident at Abbeville, LA

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 — Hard landing at IYA (Abbeville, LA)

DateMay 23, 2023
Tail numberN451PH
AircraftBell 407 · B407
LocationIYA — Abbeville, LA
Phase of flightEmergency Descent
OperationPart 91 Instructional
InjuriesNone
NTSB caseCEN23LA199

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain proper helicopter control during autorotation that resulted in an abnormal ground contact which caused the subsequent main rotor strike on the tail boom that severed the tail rotor driveshaft. Contributing to the accident was the main rotor blowback condition, due to the aft tilting of the main rotor disk.

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