On August 24, 1991, a Bell L4 EXPERIMENTAL (registration N2770X) operated by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Arlington, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING THE PLANNED AUTOROTATION AND HIS IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a test flight of a new helicopter, a planned autorotation resulted in a hard landing. The main rotor blade contacted and severed the tailboom after multiple bounces. No mechanical failure was reported.
Incident Overview
A flight test pilot was conducting height/velocity maneuvers on a manufacturer's new helicopter. During the test flight, a planned autorotation was initiated to the runway. The helicopter subsequently experienced a hard landing, during which a main rotor blade contacted the tailboom, severing it.
Eyewitness Account
An eyewitness reported that the helicopter touched down on the rear skids and bounced several times before the tailboom separated from the rest of the aircraft. The sequence of bounces preceded the structural failure.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported no mechanical failure prior to or during the incident. The exact cause of the hard landing remains undetermined based on available information.
What happened in the 24 Aug 1991 Bell L4 EXPERIMENTAL accident near Arlington, TX?
During a test flight of a new helicopter, a planned autorotation resulted in a hard landing. The main rotor blade contacted and severed the tailboom after multiple bounces. No mechanical failure was reported.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 24 Aug 1991 involved a Bell L4 EXPERIMENTAL, registration N2770X, operated by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., at Arlington, TX.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING THE PLANNED AUTOROTATION AND HIS IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…