Bell L4 EXPERIMENTAL N2770X

Summary

On 24 August 1991 at about 12:59 local time, a Bell L4 EXPERIMENTAL registered N2770X, operated by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., was involved in an accident near Arlington, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 1991 at 12:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Arlington, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Arlington (F54)

Coordinates

32.7607, -97.1404

Aircraft

Bell L4 EXPERIMENTAL

Registration

N2770X

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW91LA154

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING THE PLANNED AUTOROTATION AND HIS IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FLIGHT TEST PILOT WAS CONDUCTING HEIGHT/VELOCITY MANEUVERS ON THE MANUFACTURERS NEW HELICOPTER. A PLANNED AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED TO THE RUNWAY. A HARD LANDING OCCURRED, AND A MAIN ROTORBLADE CONTACTED THE TAILBOOM, SEVERING IT. AN EYEWITNESS STATED THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON THE REAR SKIDS AND BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE TAILBOOM SEPARATED. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.