Accident Summary
During a hover approximately 15 to 20 feet above a field at an indicated airspeed of about 20 knots, the pilot heard a loud bang. The helicopter immediately began to vibrate, and the tail section started to swing around. In response, the pilot elected to set the helicopter down on the ground. Upon landing, both the main rotor and tail rotor struck the ground.
Investigation Findings
According to the FAA inspector's report, the tailskid may have made contact with the ground at a point 123 feet from where the rotorcraft ultimately impacted the ground. At that location, approximately 20 feet of cotton stalks were found to have been pulled up or cut.
The damaged tail rotor and yoke were sent to Bell Helicopter for metallurgical examination. The inspection found no evidence of fatigue cracking on the surface of the separated blade; the separation was determined to be an overload failure. Damage to both the separated blade and the intact blade was consistent with a tail rotor blade strike.
Pilot Information
The pilot reported having 15 flight hours in this make and model of helicopter.