N5753D
BELL 206L-1
THE PLT WAS INITIATING A TAKEOFF FROM A HOVER OFF AN OFFSHORE OIL RIG. AS HE LOWERED THE NOSE FOR TAKEOFF, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE EMIT FROM THE TAILBOOM AREA & THE ACFT BEGAN ROTATING TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT CONTINUED TO APPLY PWR AND AUTOROTATED TO THE WATER. ON IMPACT, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAILBOOM AND SEVERED IT. THE AFT SECTION OF THE TAILBOOM AND THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX WERE NOT RECOVERED. INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTION IN THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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