Bell 407 N662RL

Summary

On 25 September 2021 at about 11:55 local time, a Bell 407 registered N662RL, operated by Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC, was involved in an accident near Patterson, Louisiana, United States. 3 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

25 September 2021 at 11:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Patterson, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Harry P Williams Meml (PTN)

Coordinates

29.7090, -91.3359

Aircraft

Bell 407

Registration

N662RL

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA456

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a parked helicopter while hovering to reposition for takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While hovering from the helicopter pad to reposition for takeoff, the pilot backed up the helicopter. During a pedal turn, the tail rotor contacted another helicopter’s main rotor blades, which was parked and located behind on another pad. The pilot reported she felt a strong jolt to the left, and the helicopter began to spin. The pilot lowered the collective, reduced throttle, and the helicopter came to rest upright adjacent to the helicopter pad. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.