On December 30, 1998, a Bell 47G-3B-2 (registration N123NM) was involved in an aviation accident near Murfreesboro, TN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate flare and his diverted attention, which resulted in a hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter struck the ground hard on short final after the pilot was distracted by a flight chart. The tail boom was severed and a main rotor blade damaged. No mechanical issues were reported.
Incident Overview
A helicopter sustained substantial damage after a hard landing during a local photographic flight. The pilot was returning to the airport to refuel when the flight chart slipped off his right leg while on short final, approximately five feet above the ground. Distracted while looking down to retrieve the chart, the helicopter subsequently struck the ground in a level attitude on its skids. The passenger described the touchdown as 'abnormally hard.'
Post-Landing Inspection
After landing, the pilot attempted to reposition the helicopter for refueling but found that he had no tail rotor pedal control. He then shut down the helicopter. An examination revealed that the tail boom assembly had been completely severed, and there was damage to the trailing edge of one of the main rotor blades. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the incident.
Findings
No mechanical issues were identified. The hard landing resulted from the pilot's momentary distraction while attempting to retrieve the flight chart. The helicopter's tail boom and a main rotor blade were damaged in the event.