On September 27, 1995, a Schweizer 269C (registration N267RW) was involved in an aviation accident near Hoover, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control when he positioned the helicopter in a hover so as to induce a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter on a VFR photo shoot from Birmingham airport entered an uncontrollable right spin after turning into a hover above a ridge. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction, but examination found the tail rotor drive shaft broken in overload.
Incident Overview
A helicopter operating under a VFR clearance departed Birmingham airport for a local photo shoot. While flying above a ridge line, the pilot executed a right turn into a hover. At that point, the helicopter began an uncommanded right rotation about the main rotor shaft and subsequently spiraled to the ground.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction and attributed the loss of control to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Wreckage Examination
Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the tail rotor drive shaft had broken in overload.