Accident · 2022-04-26

NTSB case ERA22FA207 · BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 429 · Part 91

What the record says

Event date
2022-04-26
Event type
Accident
Highest injury level
Fatal injury
Aircraft
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 429 (N507TJ)
Operating rule
Part 91
Operator
Mercy Flight, Inc. Operator named in NTSB report
Operated by (per NTSB report)
MERCY FLIGHT INC

Probable cause

The pilots’ inappropriate flight control inputs while in vortex ring state, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tail boom and a subsequent in-flight breakup. Also causal was the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring of the flight.

Source: NTSB case ERA22FA207

Flight 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.

RoleCertificateInstrument ratingAgeMedicalFlight hours
Flight instructorAirline transport pilot / Flight instructor / CommercialAirplane / Helicopter60Class 1 (2022-03-18)2,850 total · 500 in this make/model
PilotAirline transport pilot / Flight instructor / CommercialHelicopter60Class 2 (2021-08-25)6,030 total · 580 in this make/model

Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.

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