DAWSON, GA, USA
N4702S
Bell 47D1
The pilot stated that as he approached his load truck to land, debris started blowing around and the helicopter suddenly started spinning to the right. He had no tail rotor control when he applied left pedal. He then maneuvered away from the truck and the helicopter crashed to the ground. The tail rotor had been damaged by the flying debris resulting in the loss of control.
On August 29, 1998, about 1010 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47D1, N4702S, registered to an individual, was damaged during landing at Dawson, Georgia, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the accident site, the same day, about 1000. The pilot stated that he took off from a trailer and flew over the area that was to be sprayed. He then flew back to the staging area. As he approached his load truck to land, debris started blowing around and the helicopter suddenly started spinning to the right. He had no tail rotor control when he applied left pedal. He pulled back on the cyclic control to get away from the truck and the helicopter came to rest on the ground about 100 feet away.
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing resulting in debris being blown up during landing resulting in damage to the tail rotor and loss of control.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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