WEST PALM BEACH, FL, USA
N6359E
BELL 47G
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER MAKING AN APCH FOR LNDG INTO THE WIND, HE FLEW THE HELICOPTER TO A 6 FT HOVER. HE INITIATED A LEFT PEDAL TURN TO A HEADING OF APRX 220 DEG. ON THIS HEADING, THE WIND WAS FROM THE RIGHT REAR. THE PLT RPRTD THERE WAS AN ABRUPT PITCH-DOWN OF THE HELICOPTER'S NOSE. HE APPLIED FULL AFT CYCLIC & COLLECTIVE PITCH, FOLLOWED BY RIGHT PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE HELICOPTER INTO THE WIND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER HIT THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT SKID IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE & WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS FROM 330 DEG AT 14 GUSTING 25 KTS. ABOUT 8 MI AWAY AT PALM BEACH INTL ARPT, THE WIND WAS FROM 360 DEG AT 17 KTS. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN LOADED TO ITS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE MOMENT ARM.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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