HOOVER, AL, USA
N267RW
SCHWEIZER 269C
The flight departed Birmingham airport with a VFR clearance for a local photo shoot. The helicopter was flying above a ridge line and made a right turn into a hover. At this point it began to rotate to the right about the main rotor shaft, and spiraled to the ground. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction, and the helicopter had lost tail rotor effectiveness. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the tail rotor drive shaft had broken in overload.
On September 27, 1995, about 1711 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N267RW, collided with the ground during an uncontrolled descent from a hover near Hoover, Alabama. The helicopter was operated by Rotor Wing, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the photographic flight. The pilot and his passenger sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Hayden, Alabama, at an unspecified time. According to the operator, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the helicopter. Witnesses observed the helicopter flying alongside a ridge line. The helicopter slowed, made what was described as a pedal turn to the right, and entered a hover, out of ground effect. As it stopped, the helicopter "rocked laterally," began to rotate about the main rotor shaft, then transitioned into a descending right spiral and impacted the ground. The pilot later stated that he had gotten into a hover and lost tail rotor effectiveness. The examination of the wreckage revealed that there was fuel on board, in both tanks. Flight control continuity was found to the mast, and the tail rotor drive shaft had snapped. The throttle was closed, magnetos on both, the mixture full rich, the master switch was "off" (turned off by rescue), the fuel valve was on, the clutch was on, and the fuel boost pump was on. Only pages 1 and 2 of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were received.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control when he positioned the helicopter in a hover so as to induce a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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