Probable cause
A hard landing, which resulted in a main rotor strike of the left vertical stablizer.
NTSB analysis
The night training flight was conducted using night vision goggles, and a crew change was conducted while helicopter continued to operate. The maneuvers conducted included hovering, straight-in and 180° autorotations to touchdown, hydraulics off flight, and stuck-pedal flight to touchdown. The flight instructor and the two pilots described the maneuvers as smooth and controlled with no hard landings. A post-flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the left vertical stabilizer, and “rub marks and scratches” on the underside of each main rotor blade consistent with main rotor contact. A main rotor strike of the vertical fin likely occurred during a hard landing at the termination of an autoration, but the investigation was unable to determine the specific training event during which the main rotor strike occurred.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA045 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 16, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Chesterfield, Virginia
- Nearest airport
- Richmond Exec/Chesterfield Cou (FCI)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night, dark
Bell 407
- N-number
- N26VA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2006
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.