Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 accident near Bridgeport, Texas, December 14, 2021
On December 14, 2021 at about 7:50 pm local time, a 2019 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, registered N862YB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeport, Texas (Bridgeport Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper placement of the throttle during the initial practice power-on recovery autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 2021 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, Texas · Bridgeport Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, built 2019 · all 407s on the register
- Registration
- N862YB · registry record · serial 54837
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he elected to practice a couple power recovery autorotations before landing at his destination. The first autorotation was uneventful. During the second autorotation he decreased the throttle to what he thought was the idle position. Shortly thereafter, he received an “engine out” audio warning. He glanced at the throttle position on the collective and observed that he accidentally had the throttle in the off position instead of the idle position. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but with the ground quickly approaching, he elected to perform an engine out autorotation to the ground. He flared about 35 feet above the ground. About 7 feet above the ground, the main rotor RPM became too slow, and the helicopter dropped to the ground. The rear skids impacted hard; the helicopter rocked forward then came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage, tail boom, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Autorotation Hard landing defining event
- Autorotation Loss of lift
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,596 hours in all; 196 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 5, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 293 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 2021; 293 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,250 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C47F/4 (turboshaft); 293 hours total
- Operator: Oregon Airbus LLC
The flight
- Departed from: AFW Fort Worth TX at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,005 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KXBP
Weather report (METAR): KXBP 141955Z AUTO 21009G16KT 10SM SCT032 24/15 A3010 RMK AO2 T02370150
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 28, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | On Scene Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.