Alsatia, LA, USA
N383MA
Enstrom 280FX
The pilot landed the helicopter in a corn field and disembarked from the helicopter while the rotors were still under power. Subsequently, he said that a "gust of wind" came and the main rotor severed the tail boom.
On April 29, 2002, approximately 1830 central daylight time, an Enstrom 280FX Helicopter, N383MA, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when the main rotor blades struck the tail boom while standing with rotors idling in the vicinity of Alsatia, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Monroe, Louisiana, at 1730. In an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that he landed in a corn field and disembarked from the helicopter while the rotors were still under power. Subsequently, he said that a "gust of wind" came and the main rotor severed the tail boom. After the interview, the NTSB investigator-in-charge requested that the pilot provide the NTSB with additional information. The pilot wrote a letter back and denied that this event was an accident, thus did not provide a NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The NTSB IIC requested information from the helicopter's manufacturer to determine if the conditions that the pilot reported could have resulted in the main rotor to strike the tail boom. They were not aware of an occurrence where a gust of wind resulted in the main rotor blades to make contact and sever the tail boom.
The main rotor contact to the tail boom resulting from the pilot leaving the helicopter unattended while the rotors were engaged.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
