Accident · 2023-05-23
What the record says
- Event date
- 2023-05-23
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- No injuries
- Aircraft
- BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 (N451PH)
- Operating rule
- Part 91
- Operator
- PHI Aviation, LLC Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- PHI AVIATION LLC
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.
Source: NTSB case CEN23LA199Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check pilot | Flight instructor / Commercial | Helicopter | 31 | Class 1 (2022-07-29) | 1,689 total · 714 in this make/model · 1,602 as PIC · 35 last 90 days |
| Pilot pilot flying | Flight instructor / Commercial | Helicopter | 41 | Class 1 (2023-03-15) | 1,800 total · 8 in this make/model · 1,500 as PIC · 8 last 90 days |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.