WATSONVILLE, CA, USA
N2874B
BELL 47G-2
DURING AN AG FLT, AT ABT 5 FT AGL, THE PLT HEARD A LOUD BANG, THE ENG OVERSPED, & ALL PWR TO THE ROTOR BLADES WAS LOST. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO IMMEDIATELY LAND IN THE UNDERLYING FIELD, BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/AIRSPEED TO AUTOROTATE. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN, BOUNCED, & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWN & SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. EXAM OF THE CLUTCH REVEALED THAT POOR CONTACT WAS BEING MADE BETWEEN THE SHOES & DRUM. EXAM OF THE FREE WHEELING UNIT REVEALED IT CONTAINED NUMEROUS ROLLERS WHICH WOULD NOT LOCK. IT IS UNKNOWN WHICH COMPONENTS'S FAILURE WAS PRIMARY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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