Incident Overview
A Bell 47 helicopter was destroyed by fire after the pilot attempted to position it on a small pad that was too narrow for the aircraft. The right skid slipped off the platform, prompting the pilot to ask the passenger to deplane. After confirming no damage to the aircraft, the pilot attempted to reposition it.
Loss of Control
During the repositioning attempt, while hovering at approximately 3 feet, the aircraft began to rotate about its mast. The pilot reported losing hydraulic assist on the cyclic and also lost pedal control. The helicopter then landed hard.
Fire and Destruction
After exiting the aircraft, the pilot observed that shortly thereafter the helicopter erupted in flames and was destroyed by fire. Neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured.