HUDSON, NH, USA
N5011N
BELL 206B III
THE PLT WAS ON A FLT TO PICK UP FILM FOR A TV STATION. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE MADE A MAYDAY CALL TO THE MANCHESTER CONTROL TOWER. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT WAS PROCEEDING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION AT ABOUT 700 TO 1000 FT AGL WHEN THEY HEARD A 'MUFFLED POP.' THE HELICOPTER THEN ENTERED A DESCENT & BANKED LEFT TOWARD AN OPEN AREA ADJACENT TO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SLOWING DOWN DURING THE DESCENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN A CONFINED AREA, CAME TO REST APRX 120 FT FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT & BURNED. NONE OF THE WITNESSES SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HELICOPTER BEFORE IT CRASHED. DISASSEMBLY TO THE ENG REVEALED THAT A 3RD STAGE TURBINE WHEEL BLADE HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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