Incident
An FBI helicopter completed two circuits at low altitude around a training road course while pursuing an automobile. The scenario was arranged by the supervisor of the road course in coordination with the pilot, and an instructor drove the automobile. A second vehicle followed the pursuit and filmed the flight.
During the second lap, the automobile reversed direction as it performed a sudden stop. The helicopter executed a deceleration maneuver, during which its tail skid, tail rotor, and tailboom struck the ground.
Findings
A request for copies of procedural, operational, maintenance, and safety-related programs and documents revealed that these materials either did not exist or were in draft form and unapproved for use. The flight had neither been trained for nor briefed. Although the pilots had received training from the helicopter manufacturer, no agency mission training or evaluations had been recorded in the accident helicopter.
Review Board
The FBI convened an Aviation Accident Review Board (AARB) to examine the incident. According to the Board, pilots in the unit worked under the assumption of "fly one helicopter, fly all helicopter." The AARB members unanimously agreed that no management oversight of the unit's operations currently existed.