LA BELLE, FL, USA
N1201W
BELL 47G-5
THE PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 200 FEET AGL WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND A ROARING NOISE. THE PILOT CONDUCTED AN AUTOROTATION TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE, NOSED OVER AND SLID FORWARD. THE PILOT STATED, 'I PULLED A LITTLE TOO MUCH AFT CYCLIC AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE TAIL BOOM. INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRFRAME SYSTEM FAILURE REVEALED THE OUTER BEARING OF THE LOWER GEARCASE INPUT QUILL ASSEMBLY FAILED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER AFT APPLICATION OF CYCLIC CONTROL DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, RESULTING IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDING WITH THE TAIL BOOM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IN FLIGHT FAILURE OF THE OUTER BEARING OF THE LOWER GEARCASE INPUT QUILL ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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