National Transportation Safety Board
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report
Location: Elba, NY Accident Number: ERA22FA207
Date & Time: April 26, 2022, 13:00 Local Registration: N507TJ
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON
Aircraft: Injuries: 2 Fatal
CANADA 429
Flight Conducted
Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Under:
On April 26, 2022, at 1300 eastern daylight time, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, 429,
N507TJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Elba, New York.
The instructor pilot and company pilot were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a
Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
A representative of the operator, Mercy Flight Inc., stated that the instructional flight was a
flight review being conducted by the helicopter manufacturer’s flight instructor with multiple
flight reviews planned throughout the day; the accident flight was the second flight of the day.
Preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the
flight departed Genesee County Airport (GVQ) Batavia, New York about 1110 and performed
multiple maneuvers in the immediate vicinity of the airport before departing to the east.
About 20 minutes later, the helicopter returned to the airport and performed additional
maneuvers in the airport traffic pattern for about 30 minutes before again departing the
traffic pattern. Shortly after, the helicopter climbed to 2,600 ft mean sea level (msl) at 70
knots while on a track of 069° magnetic. Over the next 40 seconds, the helicopter descended
to 1,900 ft msl at 94 knots as it entered a right turn, completing an oval ground track as it
climbed and leveled at 2,450 ft msl and 55 knots for several seconds, before descending to
1,975 ft msl (1,227 ft above ground level) while maintaining between 20 and 13 knots.
Several eyewitnesses observed and heard the helicopter flying overhead before to the accident.
One stated that he observed the helicopter “almost stationary” after it flew over, and then as it
started to fly away, he heard a loud “bang”, and the helicopter began to descend out of control.
An additional witness stated that the helicopter was hovering before it “fell apart” with the
fuselage falling separately and another witness stated she did not see the helicopter but heard
what sounded like an engine making a “whooshing” sound, then “three loud and rapid cracks”
in succession. She further stated that she heard the helicopter impact the ground and heard
the rotor blades striking the ground rapidly.
The helicopter fuselage containing the cockpit, engine, transmission, and rotor assembly
struck electrical distribution wires as it impacted the terrain at an elevation of about 1,220 ft
Page 1 of 4 ERA22FA207
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
msl. The helicopter came to rest on its left side and a small post-crash fire developed but was
quickly extinguished by first responders. The wreckage path was about 1,900 ft long and
oriented in a direction of 250°. The tail boom, containing the tail rotor, drive shaft, vertical fin
and horizontal stabilizer remained largely intact and was discovered about 390 ft from the
main wreckage, on a heading of about 075°. A section of the tail boom and carbon fiber tail
rotor shaft was discovered 1,620 ft and 072° from the main wreckage; it exhibited an angled
fracture line consistent with main rotor blade contact. (Figure 1)
Figure 1 Figure 1 Tail rotor and main rotor blade slice in tail boom.
All four main rotor blades were separated from the main rotor head and discovered within
550 ft northwest of the main wreckage. The span of all four blades were recovered. The cyclic
and collective push-pull tubes were traced to their respective control inputs and actuators.
Fractures in the system were consistent with overload. Control continuity was confirmed for
both collective and cyclic controls.
The main rotor drive system gear box remained partially attached to the airframe with both
left and right longitudinal pitch restraints separated from their respective stops. Both input
driveshafts could be manually rotated counterclockwise in the freewheeling direction but
could not be manually rotated in the clockwise direction, likely due to impact damage.
The tail rotor input controls were physically actuated confirming control continuity. The tail
rotor drive shaft remained connected to the main gearbox but was fractured about midway to
blower.
Both engines were located within the main wreckage. Examination revealed damage
Page 2 of 4 ERA22FA207
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
consistent with impact damage. The engine switches in the cockpit located in the center below
the glareshield exhibited minor deformation. The No. 1 engine switch was undamaged and
functioned smoothly. It was discovered in the “OFF” position. The No. 2 engine switch was
slightly bent and was discovered in the “ON” position.
Multiple electronic recording devices were removed from the wreckage and retained for
download of the non-volatile memory. The remaining wreckage was retained for further
examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: BELL HELICOPTER Registration: N507TJ
TEXTRON CANADA
Model/Series: 429 NO SERIES Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built:
Operator: Operating Certificate(s) On-demand air taxi (135)
Held:
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: ROC,540 ft msl Observation Time: 12:54 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 21 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C /4°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / , 290°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3400 ft AGL Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Batavia, NY (CVQ) Destination: Elba, NY
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal Latitude, 43.063838,-78.139356
Longitude:
Page 3 of 4 ERA22FA207
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Mccarter, Lawrence
Additional Participating Persons: Matthew Rigsby; FAA AVP; Haslet, TX
Beverly Harvey; Transportation Safety Board of Canada; Gatineau, OF
Dennis Crandall; Mercy Flight Inc.; Buffalo, NY
Benoit Albert; Bell Helicopters ; OF
Merryn Spielman; Pratt and Whitney Canada; OF
Note:
Page 4 of 4 ERA22FA207
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
