On May 29, 1986, a Bell 47-D1 (registration N10065) operated by Whirley Bird was involved in an aviation accident near Panama City Bch, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter crashed nose-low into a parking lot after the pilot lost partial control while performing a stunt where a 'clown' grabbed the skid to create the illusion of hanging from the helicopter.
Accident Details
According to the official investigation, the helicopter pilot planned to hover the aircraft to allow a performer referred to as a 'clown' to touch the skids. A photographer was positioned to record the event from below, aiming upward to create the visual effect that the 'clown' was hanging from the skid.
During the maneuver, the 'clown' grabbed the left rear skid. In response, the pilot added power and applied full right forward cyclic control. The pilot then added further power, resulting in a partial loss of control over the helicopter.
The aircraft subsequently circled over a highway and the heliport building before crashing nose-low into an adjacent parking lot. The 'clown' jumped from the helicopter just before impact.