On February 21, 1984, a Bell 47G4A (registration N7956J) was involved in an aviation accident near Refugio, TX. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter used for cattle herding in a heavily wooded/brushy area experienced a loud sound from the rear, then pitched nose down and rotated right before impacting the ground. The tailboom and both stabilizers separated.
Accident Overview
A helicopter being used to herd cattle in a heavily wooded/brushy area crashed after experiencing an in-flight anomaly. The pilot reported that the aircraft was in a hover maneuver at 50-60 feet above ground level when a loud sound emanated from the rear of the helicopter. Immediately afterward, the helicopter pitched nose down and began to rotate to the right. After approximately two rotations, the helicopter struck the ground.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that the loud sound originated from the rear of the helicopter. Following the sound, the helicopter pitched nose down and entered a right rotation. The pilot did not provide additional details about the sequence of events or any control inputs.
Damage Assessment
Photographs provided by the pilot revealed that the tailboom and both the left and right stabilizers had separated from the helicopter. Additionally, the images showed evidence of an impact on the tail rotor drive shaft and the pitch change linkage. The extent of damage to other components was not specified in the source.