What happened
The helicopter experienced a critical mechanical issue during the initial phase of flight operations. According to the pilot's report, significant vibration was detected within the tail rotor control pedals prior to or during the attempted takeoff. In response to this malfunction, the pilot elected to abort the climb and attempt an emergency landing in a nearby open field.
During the subsequent touchdown sequence, the aircraft exhibited uncommanded yawing motion, spinning sharply to the right. This loss of directional control resulted in the helicopter rolling onto its left side upon coming to rest. Post-incident inspection revealed that a section of the tail rotor blade tip had been found beneath nearby power lines, indicating that the tail rotor assembly had contacted overhead infrastructure during the incident.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site and the aircraft components provided key insights into the sequence of events. Investigators located a fragment of the tail rotor blade tip situated directly beneath the power lines where contact was suspected. This physical evidence confirmed that the tail rotor section had indeed contacted the power line during the attempted takeoff maneuver.
The pilot's account of vibration in the tail rotor control pedals correlated with the mechanical failure indicated by the damaged blade. The investigation focused on establishing the timeline between the initial vibration report and the subsequent contact with the power line, as well as the loss of anti-torque control that led to the spin during landing.