FIELDS, OR, USA
N401S
AEROSPATIALE SA341G
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS IN A SLOW DESCENDING TURN TO THE LEFT AT ABOUT 20 KTS (TRANSLATIONAL LIFT). THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY ROTATED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. HE ESTIMATED THAT THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. HE APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL & THE ROTATION STOPPED IN A SLIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AFTER ABOUT 2 TURNS. ALSO, THE PLT NOTICED THAT THE ENG WAS NOT PROVIDING POWER; HE PRESUMED THE FUEL LIMITER HAD RESTRICTED THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENG, CAUSING A REDUCTION OF POWER. BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT APPLIED COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION THE LANDING, BUT THE RIGHT SKID WAS DAMAGED & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD & CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE NEAR 6000 FT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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