Accidents
Bell 407 Tail Booms To Get Fresh Scrutiny
NTSB calls on FAA to impose stricter inspection regime after Bell 407 in-flight tail boom separation
separated tailboom from a Bell 407 which crashed in June in Hawaii
While the NTSB continues to investigate the inflight tailboom separation on a Bell 407 earlier this year in Hawaii, officials are urging more frequent inspections for the model. (Photo: NTSB)

Bell is working with the FAA on a revised and shorter inspection schedule for key components of its 407 helicopter series tail booms. A related service bulletin and airworthiness directive could be issued this week.

The move comes after the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) took the extraordinary move of issuing a public appeal to mandate such inspections as it continues to investigate the June in-flight tail boom separation on a Bell 407 in Hawaii that seriously injured three of the six aboard. The NTSB also opened the public docket of that investigation on October 31st. 

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