STOCKTON, CA, USA
N2879B
BELL 47G-2
THE PILOT LANDED TO PICK UP A FLAGGER AND TAKE HIM TO THE END OF THE FIELD. THE LANDING WAS MADE FACING NORTH ON A NORTH-SOUTH DRIVEWAY. AN OVERHEAD LINE WAS LOCATED ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY. DURING TAKEOFF, THE PILOT MOVED LATERALLY TO THE WEST, AND THEN TURNED THE HELICOPTER TO TAKEOFF. HE THOUGHT THE HELICOPTER WOULD BE CLEAR OF THE OVERHEAD LINE; HOWEVER, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE WIRE AND FAILED. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN AND THE PILOT INITIATED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION. DURING TOUCHDOWN, A SKID FAILED WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS STILL SPINNING AND MOVING ACROSS THE GROUND. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DEMOLISHED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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