No fatalities

BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 accident at Bridgeport, TX, 14 Dec 2021

Bridgeport, TX, United States

On December 14, 2021, a BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 operated by OREGON AIRBUS LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Bridgeport, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: 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. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

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.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotProp/rotor parameters — Not attained/maintainedAirspeed — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 14 Dec 2021 BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 accident near Bridgeport, TX?

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.

Were there any fatalities in the 14 Dec 2021 BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 14 Dec 2021 involved a BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407, operated by OREGON AIRBUS LLC, at Bridgeport, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

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.