NASHVILLE, TN, USA
N9072V
ROBINSON R-22
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT BETWEEN 100 AND 500 FEET AGL AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN SLAPPING AND CRACKING SOUNDS WERE HEARD, FOLLOWED BY THE IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP OF THE HELICOPTER. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER 700 FT WITH THE TAILBOOM 200 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF MAIN ROTOR BLADE DIVERGENCE, MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKES TO THE TAILBOOM AND SEPARATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR MAST AT THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION. A METALLURGIST'S EXAM OF THE PITCH CHANGE LINKS AND MAIN ROTOR BLADE FRACTURES REVEALED OVERSTRESS SEPARATIONS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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