Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Deland, Florida 32763
Monday, January 7, 2008 18:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter was cruising at 120 knots and 700 feet above the ground. About 2 city blocks from the intended destination, the pilot heard a loud "bang," and the helicopter then yawed left about 30 degrees. The pilot initiated an autorotation to a nearby road that was under construction. While attempting to land, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to avoid construction equipment, and during the landing the main rotor blades contacted the vertical stabilizer. After the helicopter came to rest, the pilot observed a fire in the engine compartment, which he extinguished using the on-board fire extinguisher. Post-accident examination of the engine revealed that one of the blades on the third stage turbine wheel had failed in fatigue, resulting in an over-speed and subsequent burst of the first stage turbine wheel. The root cause of the blade failure could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of a third stage turbine wheel blade.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/7/2008
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DeLand
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32763
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 285904N
Event Location Longitude 0811758W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID DAB
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.31
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25855
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jan 7 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 11 2009 3:33PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Tampa FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N801DS
NTSB Number NYC08LA077
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 407
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 53504
Certified Max Gross Weight 5000
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3895
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Volusia County Sheriff's Department
Aircraft Owner Street Address 951 Singleton Drive
Aircraft Owner City DeLand
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32724
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Volusia County Sheriff's Department
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 951 Singleton Drive
Operator City DeLand
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32724
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DED
Departure City DeLand
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1831
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City DeLand
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 14 2011 5:50PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --