Bell 407 N31PB

Summary

On 23 March 2012 at about 18:55 local time, a Bell 407 registered N31PB, operated by Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office, was involved in an accident near Delray Beach, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 March 2012 at 18:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Delray Beach, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.4553, -80.1961

Aircraft

Bell 407

Registration

N31PB

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Palm Beach → West Palm Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12TA251

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper response to a simulated engine failure and the instructor’s delayed and improper remedial action.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight during the law enforcement aerial surveillance and evaluation flight, the instructor induced a simulated engine failure. The pilot being evaluated rolled the throttle from the idle position back to the flight position instead of lowering the collective to maintain rotor rpm. The instructor then took control of the helicopter, but he did not lower the collective either, and the main rotor rpm subsequently decayed to well below the lower limit of the normal operating range. The low-rotor condition resulted in a loss of helicopter control and glide capability and a subsequent hard landing in trees. Examination of the flight department's training program revealed that the conditions and standards for the performance of a simulated engine failure were not outlined as a separate task within the manual and that the manual did not provide information regarding entry altitudes, callouts, recovery altitudes and procedures, or maneuver termination protocols. The instructor reported no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.